WALES

Carers' Equal Opportunities Act

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales Government concerning the implementation of the Carers' Equal Opportunities Act 2004 in Wales; and how good practice will be shared between England and Wales.

Peter Hain: The provisions of the Carers Equal Opportunities Act 2004 commenced in April 2005.
	The Welsh Assembly Government working with its Carers Strategy Review Panel, the Department of Health and the Social Care Institute for Excellence, continue to seek to ensure that information about examples of good practice in Wales or England are widely disseminated.

Departmental Advertising

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much the Department spent on advertising in each of the last five years.

Peter Hain: The Wales Office runs no publicity campaigns and hence has spent nothing on advertising in the last five years.

Departmental Conferences

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much the Department has spent on organising or sponsoring conferences in each of the last five years.

Peter Hain: The Wales Office has neither organised nor sponsored any conferences over the last five years.

Digital Television

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on digital television coverage in Wales.

Peter Hain: The vast majority of households in Wales can, with the appropriate equipment, receive digital television services via at least one of satellite, digital terrestrial or cable.

Digital Television

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what support will be given to pensioners and people on low incomes in Wales with the costs involved to upgrade to digital television.

Peter Hain: The Government are committed to ensuring that the interests of the most vulnerable consumers are protected during digital switchover and has proposed that the BBC help establish and fund appropriate support. We will announce details of the scope of this assistance in due course.
	As part of the process of detailed scheme design, a trial is planned for later this year in Bolton. The aim of the trial is to assess the effectiveness of various forms of assistance. Leaflets, telephone helplines and support from carers and social workers will be among the methods being piloted.

Ministerial Duties

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to his answer of 9 June 2005, Official Report, column 615W, on ministerial duties, whether he spent a total of more or less than 24 hours performing ministerial functions as the Secretary of State for Wales in the week commencing 9 May.

Peter Hain: As I made clear in my answer of 25 May, I spend as much time as is required in fulfilling my role as Secretary of State for Wales. In any week this will represent considerably more than 24 hours, including the week of 9 May.

Special Advisers

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list (a) the special advisers in his Department, (b) their specific areas of expertise and (c) the total cost of employing them in the latest year for which figures are available.

Peter Hain: As Secretary of State for Wales I have two special advisers, both of whom provide assistance across all of the Department's policy areas.
	They are paid on national salary scales, which apply to all Government Departments; the basic scale currently ranges from 37,366 to 50,148.

Work-related Stress

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of work-related stress have been reported in his Department in each of the last three years; how much compensation was paid to employees in each year; how many work days were lost due to work-related stress in each year; at what cost; what procedures have been put in place to reduce work-related stress; at what cost; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: Detailed sickness absence statistics are derived from medical and self-certificates, which are completed by staff or their GPs. While certain illnesses, such as depression, anxiety, general debility and even stress may be indicated on certificates, it is not possible to determine levels of work-related stress. Consequently, we have no details on the number of working days lost due to work-related stress or the cost to the Department.
	Since the establishment of this Department in July 1999, there have been no compensation payments to employees for work-related stress.
	The Wales Office staff have available to them the resources of the National Assembly, and since June 2003, of the Department for Constitutional Affairs in tackling stress. These include a stress at work policy and a manager's toolkit to ensure that the policy is used effectively and at appropriate times, a stress helpline as part of the internal occupational welfare provision and a range of courses for managers and employees on managing stress in the workplace. All these new initiatives are based on best practice and on the Stress Management Standards issued by the Health and Safety Executive last year.
	The Department offers flexible working patterns, enabling staff to adopt more effective working patterns to better balance their work and home life.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Parliamentary Business

David Amess: To ask the Leader of the House 
	(1)  if he will list Government Bills subject to a Programme Motion where each clause was not debated (a) in Standing Committee, (b) in Committee of the Whole House and (c) at Report stage as a result of insufficient time in each of the last five Sessions for which figures are available;
	(2)  if he will list Private Members' Bills where a Division took place on Second Reading and where the Bill subsequently did not receive Royal Assent in each Session since 1975;
	(3)  if he will list Select Committee reports which have been debated on the Floor of the House in each Session since 1976;
	(4)  on how many occasions in each parliamentary Session from 1976 to 2004 (a) the House of Lords passed amendments to (i) Private Members' Bills and (ii) Government Bills against the advice of the Government, (b) such amendments were (A) accepted by the Government in the House of Commons and (B)reversed in the House of Commons, (c) the reversal was accepted by the House of Lords and (d) the House of Lords insisted on its amendments;
	(5)  if he will list (a) Government Bills and (b) private Members' Bills where the Committee stage was taken on the Floor of the House in each Session since 1976;
	(6)  if he will list (a) Government Bills and (b) private Members' Bills where all stages were taken in one sitting in each session since 1976;
	(7)  what the average number of days of consideration for Government Bills in (a) the House of Commons and (b) the House of Lords was in each parliamentary Session since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The information requested is a matter of public record. I refer the hon. Member to the House of Commons Library.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Compulsory Purchase Orders

David Amess: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many compulsory purchase orders have been implemented in each local authority in Essex in each of the last five years.

Yvette Cooper: The Secretary of State has the power to confirm compulsory purchase orders, however once an order has been confirmed it is for the acquiring authority to implement it. The Government therefore do not hold any information on the number that have been implemented.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what conditions are necessary for a caravan to be eligible for (a) class C and (b) class G council tax exemption.

Phil Woolas: The Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) Order 1992 (SI 1992 No. 558) provides that dwellings, including caravans, are exempt from council tax under class C where they have been vacant for a continuous period of up to six months. The usual requirement that to qualify for a class C exemption the dwelling be substantially unfurnished does not however apply in the case of caravans.
	Dwellings, including caravans, are exempt from council tax under class G where they are unoccupied and occupation is prohibited by law. The class G exemption does not apply when a caravan or other dwelling is in fact occupied.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans the Valuation Office Agency has to use private sector firms during the council tax revaluation in England.

Phil Woolas: The Valuation Office Agency has no plans to use private sector firms during the process of council tax revaluation in England.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether breach of (a) planning regulation, (b) health and safety regulations and (c) building regulations are grounds for deeming occupation of an hereditament to be prohibited for (i) council tax and (ii) business rates liability.

Phil Woolas: It is our view that where occupation of a dwelling is prohibited by planning, health and safety regulations but the dwelling is occupied illegally, it will not be exempt and the residents will be liable for council tax.
	Similarly, where a hereditament is occupied and liable to business rates, then that liability remains, regardless of whether the premises are occupied in breach of planning regulations, health and safety regulations or building regulations, or not.

Fire-related Deaths

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many fire-related deaths there were in dwellings in Hornsey and Wood Green in each year since 2000.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The available information on fire-related deaths in dwelling fires in Hornsey and Wood Green in the calendar years since 2000 is as follows:
	
		Fire-related deaths in dwelling fires, Hornsey and Wood Green
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2000 0 
			 2001 2 
			 2002 1 
			 2003 1 
			 2004 1 
		
	
	Source:
	London Fire Brigade
	London's five-year average (19992000 to 200304) for accidental dwellings fire deaths is 7.2 per million population, 23 per cent. higher than the average for England (5.9), but lower than the floor target of 1.25 times (7.3 deaths).

First-time Buyers

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many first-time buyers there have been in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available; and how many of these he estimates were returners, who had previously been home owners.

Yvette Cooper: Estimates of the numbers of first-time buyers for the UK for each of the past 12 months are as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 June 2004 33,600 
			 July 2004 36,300 
			 August 2004 31,100 
			 September 2004 28,500 
			 October 2004 29,000 
			 November 2004 24,900 
			 December 2004 24,100 
			 January 2005 18,200 
			 February 2005 18,100 
			 March 2005 22,600 
			 April 2005 25,100 
			 May 2005 25,600 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The figures exclude any first-time buyers who bought a property without the need for a mortgage.
	2. The source of the data, the Survey of Mortgage Lenders, does not differentiate between genuine first-time buyers (those who have never been owner occupiers) and other first-time buyers (who have previously been owner occupiers).
	However, estimates from the most recent Survey of English Housing data suggest that, currently, as many as 26 per cent. of so-called first-time buyers are in fact returning owner occupiers.
	Source:
	Council of Mortgage Lenders/Survey of Mortgage Lenders

High Hedges

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if his Department will place in the Vote Office copies of the document published in June entitled High HedgesComplaints: Prevention and Cure, ISBN 1851127879.

Yvette Cooper: Copies of the document entitled High Hedges Complaints: Prevention and Cure have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses, and it is freely available on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister website at www.odpm.gov.uk/treesandhedges. We are happy to provide copies to hon. Members on request and I am arranging for one to be sent to the hon. Gentleman. Against this background, we see no need to place copies in the Vote Office.

Identity Cards

Edward Garnier: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the cost of equipping local authority premises with identity card readers.

Phil Woolas: We have been working with the Home Office to identify areas where the Identity Cards Scheme could provide business benefits. On 28 June 2005, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary placed in the Library a paper containing the latest estimates of benefits of the Identity Cards Scheme which shows that the benefits outweigh the costs once the scheme is fully operational. The cost of equipping premises will depend on the nature of the use of the Identity Cards Scheme and the type of identity check(s) necessary to deliver the business benefits. In some cases, benefits could be realised without the use of card readers and the cost of installing any readers needs to be considered alongside future plans to refresh or upgrade IT systems. As the design of the scheme matures, during and after the procurement exercise, so will our understanding of where the scheme will be of most benefit which will allow us to further refine our estimates of costs and benefits.

Performance Criteria (County Councils)

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1) what representations he has received from county councils on the number of performance criteria to which they are subject; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the number of performance criteria to which county councils are subject; and what plans he has to reduce them.

Phil Woolas: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has received a letter from Hampshire county council setting out the performance measures which the council reports against.
	We are considering the requirements for the number of targets, indicators and standards for local government as part of our developing work on the performance framework, as set out in the document Securing better outcomes: developing a new performance framework published in March 2005. This work is being taken forward in the context of our 10 year vision for local government as set out in The future of local government: Developing a 10 year vision which was published in July 2004.

Social Housing (Chorley)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on social housing needs in Chorley.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 4 July 2005
	Between 2001 and 2005 the Housing Corporation via the Approved Development Programme spent over 3.7 million in Chorley on the provision of new affordable housing for both rent and low-cost home ownership. A total of 53 new social rented homes were completed in Chorley over the same period through grant provided via the Housing Corporation. Chorley borough council spent approximately 0.3 million on improving its own stock.
	We announced on 23 June 2005 that following evidence of strong tenant support Chorley is in the 2005 Housing transfer programme. This will ensure the remaining non decent council homes will be made decent by the 2010 deadline.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Further Education

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost of monetary incentives to encourage pupils to pursue post-16 education has been in each year since the incentives were introduced.

Maria Eagle: Education maintenance allowances (EMAs) are an incentive to encourage young people to stay on in further education post-16. They were piloted from September 1999 in 15 LEA areas, and these pilot areas were extended to include a total of 52 LEAs in September 2000. The scheme was rolled out nationally from September 2004. The costs in each financial year since 1999 have been:
	
		Education maintenance allowance 
		
			  Expenditure ( million) 
		
		
			 19992000 11 
			 200001 52 
			 200102 109 
			 200203 120 
			 200304 142 
			 200405 (Forecast) 260 
			 200506 (Projected) 403

Graduate Employment

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the proportion of graduates in jobs for which a degree was not an advertised requirement one year after completion of their studies for each year between 1994 and 2004.

Bill Rammell: We do not collect the information at the level of detail requested. The available information covers first degree graduates who were in employment six months after graduation. The earliest data relate to graduates in the academic year 2002/03. Respondents were asked if they would have been able to get the job they were doing without the qualification they obtained.
	Of first degree graduates, known to be in employment and who responded to the question, 39 per cent. qualifying in 2002/03 and 37 per cent. qualifying in 2003/04 responded that they could have obtained their job without their degree qualification. Figures and percentages are given in the following table.
	
		Response by first degree qualifiers(1)(5508030002) in employment six months after graduation to the question: 'Would you have been able to obtain the job you are doing without your recently obtained qualification?' 2002/03 and 2003/04
		
			  2002/03 2003/04 
			 Response Number Percentage Number Percentage 
		
		
			 No, the qualification was a formal requirement 33,410 29 36,865 31 
			 No, the qualification was expected 9,610 8 10,275 9 
			 Possibly, but the qualification gave me an advantage 23,250 21 24,350 21 
			 Yes 44,050 39 43,835 37 
			 Do not know 2,985 3 3,080 3 
			 Total 113,305 100 118,415 100 
			 Question not answered 32,210  31,750  
			 Total employed 145,515  150,160  
		
	
	(1) Figures cover home and EU full-time and part-time first degree graduates from UK HE institutions.
	(2) Figures are rounded to the nearest 5, so constituent parts may not sum to totals.
	Source:
	Destination of Leavers from Higher Education (Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA))
	The Department also commissioned a survey of 1995 graduates, tracking graduate careers 3 and a half years post-graduation, which asks about how the skills gained at university have since been put to use. For this cohort it is estimated that 65 per cent. of employed graduatessix months after leavingare in jobs using their degree skills, and this rises to 70 per cent. after one year, and to nearly 80 per cent. within three and a half years 1 . This research is currently being updated tracking the careers of a cohort of 1999 graduates up to four years after leaving universitythis will be published in the autumn.
	In addition, projections of occupational demand show that of the 13.5 million total jobs expected to be filled by 2012, 50 per cent.that is 6.8 millionare in occupations most likely to demand graduates 2 .
	1 Data from Elias, P et al (1999) Moving On: graduate careers three years after graduation. CSU/DfEE.
	2 Based on data from Wilson, R et al (2004) Working Futures: new projections of occupational employment by sector and region, 20022012 IER, Warwick.

Key Stage 2 Results

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of 11-year-olds failed to reach level 2 at KS2 in reading, writing and mathematics in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is as follows:
	
		Percentage of pupils failing to achieve level 2
		
			  2004 2003 2002 
		
		
			 Reading 8 7 7 
			 Writing 8 8 7 
			 Mathematics 5 5 4 
		
	
	These figures cover all schools, including independent schools and pupil referral units.

Looked-after Children

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what plans she has to introduce measures to assist local authorities in reducing the number of placements experienced by looked-after children;
	(2)  what reports she has received and what discussions she has had relating to the effect of placing looked-after children from London and inner-cities in seaside communities.

Maria Eagle: Improving the stability of looked-after children's lives, and thus reducing the number of placements which they experience, is one of the Government's key objectives. The Department for Education and Skills has a public service agreement target that, by 2008, 80 per cent. of children under 16 who have been looked after for 2.5 years or more will have been in the same placement for at least two years or be placed for adoption. We are working closely with local authorities to ensure that this target can be met: we have issued a range of tools and guidance to help authorities commission placements for children more effectively; we have a programme of work in place to improve the support received by foster carers; we are looking at ways in which to encourage better use of friends and family placements; we are working to reduce unnecessary delays in public law cases; and we have introduced independent reviewing officers to chair individual children's reviews. These all have important contributions to make in securing improved stability for looked after children.
	Kent Child Protection Committee sent the Department a report on child and public protection issues in Thanet at the end of June. We are currently considering the report carefully and will respond to the Committee in due course. At the same time, we are also considering a national report, commissioned by Ministers last year, on identifying ways of helping local authorities both to reduce their dependence on out-of-authority placements for looked after children, and to improve support for children who are placed out-of-authority.

Looked-after Children

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many looked-after children under 16 years of age (a) were prescribed contraceptive measures and (b) had pregnancy terminations (i) with and (ii) without parental consultation and approval in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Student Finance

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of students were assessed to make (a) no contribution towards their fees, (b) a partial contribution towards their fees and (c) a full contribution towards their fees in each academic year between 19992000 and 200405.

Bill Rammell: Students on full-time undergraduate courses and their families are expected to make a contribution towards the cost of their tuition based on household income. Students from lower income backgrounds are wholly or partially exempt from paying tuition fees.
	Available data on the percentage of students making a nil, partial or full contribution to their fees are given in the table.
	
		Percentage of students making a nil, partial, or full contribution to fees, academic years 19992000 to 200304(3)
		
			  Percentage of students making a: 
			 Academic year nil contribution to fees partial contribution to fees full contribution to fees 
		
		
			 1999/2000 45 20 35 
			 2000/01 42 19 39 
			 2001/02 43 16 41 
			 2002/03 43 15 42 
			 2003/04 43 14 43 
		
	
	(3) Data do not include those students who decide not to apply for any support with their fees and instead make direct application to the institution.
	Source:
	F503G Survey of Local Education Authorities and SLC
	Data in the answer cover the period from 1999/2000 to 2003/04. Information on the percentage of student contributions to tuition fees in 2004/05 is not yet available, but this will be included in a Statistical First Release due to be published in November 2005.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Cereal Disease

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the level of risk of cereal disease due to high temperatures and low rainfall; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The major indigenous diseases of UK wheat and barley crops are favoured by wet weather, particularly in spring and summer. With current production systems and cereal varieties, high temperatures and low rainfall reduce the incidence of cereal diseases. Other risks are monitored as part of the UK's surveillance programme for plant quarantine diseases. Generally, these risks are unlikely to increase as a result of high temperatures and low rainfall.

Chicken Imports

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what quantity of chickens have been imported into the UK in each of the last five years; and from which countries they have been imported.

Jim Knight: Imports of chicken, chicken offal and live chickens in each of the last five years are provided in the following table:
	
		Tonnes
		
			 Chicken type/Country 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Chicken, fresh, chilled or frozen  
			 Netherlands 130,198 119,685 130,677 132,789 139,546 
			 France 48,740 38,673 37,302 33,947 35,136 
			 Brazil 16,855 19,834 15,506 18,615 39,577 
			 Germany 13,416 18,831 17,564 17,436 20,842 
			 Belgium 13,445 11,879 15,633 18,129 18,084 
			 Denmark 14,180 12,051 15,667 15,363 10,154 
			 Irish Republic 7,831 9,024 8,674 10,527 17,421 
			 Thailand 7,191 8,187 7,125 11,286 2,559 
			 Spain 6,591 7,379 7,427 7,261 6,061 
			 Portugal   82 8,644 22,607 
			 Italy 3,884 3,380 3,943 4,911 4,209 
			 Poland 33 40 886 4,588 12,606 
			 Chile 314 2,070 1,044 3,650 4,368 
			 Argentina 13 169 513 1,768 1,330 
			 Hungary 49 287 590 923 1,207 
			 Other 76 263 417 2,282 3,152 
			 Chicken, prepared or preserved  
			 Thailand 16,229 20,678 26,230 33,787 41,757 
			 Irish Republic 7,055 11,501 12,497 21,967 18,748 
			 Netherlands 15,866 11,339 10,878 12,565 13,427 
			 France 9,065 6,539 6,754 6,894 9,986 
			 Brazil 5,946 7,071 8,512 9,901 6,148 
			 Germany 1,776 2,261 1,545 3,841 5,255 
			 Denmark 579 634 752 1,053 2,209 
			 Croatia 597 705 882 886 1,090 
			 Belgium 800 617 774 912 714 
			 Slovenia 673 751 769 984 382 
			 Italy 299 1,562 115 1,043 370 
			 Portugal583 1,495 
			 Other 187 251 1,173 1,042 1,659 
			 Chicken offal, fresh, chilled or frozen  
			 Netherlands 1,117 6,442 10,173 9,159 10,294 
			 France 339 243 3,318 213 269 
			 Irish Republic 415 667 241 770 15 
			 Germany  111 589 520 47 
			 Spain 380 328 286 95 7 
			 Belgium 33 70 416 171 96 
			 Austria170 389 
			 Other 134 4 3 359 112 
			 Live Chickens  
			 Irish Republic 199 74 17 128 594 
			 France 2 13 3 55 32 
			 Germany 4 13 39 5 15 
			 Belgium 0 68
			 Other 5 5 9 3 9 
		
	
	Note:
	1. Data prepared by Trade statistics, Food Chain Analysis 3, DEFRA.
	2. 2004 data is subject to amendments.
	Source:
	H M Revenue and Customs

Cormorants

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of her Department's policy on cormorant control following its first winter of operation.

Jim Knight: The cormorant model produced by the Central Science Laboratory is available on the Defra website:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/vertebrates/piscivorous.htm#cormorants
	and provides predictions of the effect of different licensing strategies on winter cormorant numbers in England. Information on the actual number of birds removed under license, and any change in winter cormorant numbers as a result of the policy are not yet available. The model and its predictions will be reviewed and updated as new information becomes available.
	The effects of the new procedures are currently being reviewed by the Department in the light of experience gained from last season. It is expected that the review will be completed by early September.

EU Sugar Regime

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the EU Commission proposals for sugar reform; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Commission's proposals were announced on 22 June and will be formally presented to the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 18 July, when member states will give their initial reactions. In the meantime we have submitted a detailed Regulatory Impact Assessment to the Scrutiny Committees and also made it publicly available as background to the consultation exercise which we launched on 30 June.

Farm Single Payment Scheme

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether farmers will receive their single payment scheme payments in February 2006; whether compensation will be paid to those who receive their payments after the due time; and if she will make advance payments to farmers in the event of foreseen delays.

Jim Knight: The payment window set out in EU legislation for the single payment scheme runs from 1 December 2005 to 30 June 2006. Our forecast of a February 2006 payment date for England fits comfortably within that window and remains our position. Payments made within the window do not attract compensation.
	We have not ruled out the possibility of making advance payments or similar measures but there are real legal and practical difficulties in doing so and we would not want to take action that would delay the main payment.

Farm Single Payment Scheme

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many single payment scheme applicants indicated on their applications that they did not know what had been grown on their land in the years before they purchased it.

Jim Knight: The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has received 120,082 application forms under the Single Payment Scheme. These are currently being processed. Until the RPA has captured all data and completed validation a substantive answer to this question cannot be provided.

Farm Single Payment Scheme

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many Single Payment Scheme applicants have been penalised for submitting application forms after the relevant deadline.

Jim Knight: The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has received 120,082 application forms under the Single Payment Scheme. These are currently being processed. Until RPA has captured all data and completed validation definitive figures are not available. To date a total of 8,494 applications have been received after the 16 May 2005 deadline. Those applications received after 16 May will be processed in accordance with the scheme rules.

Farm Single Payment Scheme

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the cost effects of Single Payment Scheme application forms which failed to meet the deadline of 16 May; and what proportion of these were forms first received by her Department prior to 16 May but returned to the applicant for completion or amendment.

Jim Knight: Until the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has captured all data and completed validation definitive figures are not available. To date 8,494 applications have been received after the deadline of 16 May 2005. Of that number 2,387 applications initially received before 16 May 2005 were referred to applicants for amendment and were not received back until after the deadline.
	The Single Payment Scheme is funded by the EU. RPA therefore does not make savings from any reductions to scheme payments.

Tree Cover

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the percentage tree cover in England was (a) on the latest date for which figures are available, (b) 10 years ago and (c) 20 years ago.

Jim Knight: A national woodland survey is carried out by the Forestry Commission at intervals of between 15 and 20 years. The most recent country reports were published in 2001 and 2002 and these were based on fieldwork completed between 1994 and 2000. The results of the previous survey to this were published in the 1980 Census of Woodland, from fieldwork carried out between 1979 and 1982. The results are given in the following table:
	
		
			  National inventory 199599 1980 Census 
		
		
			 EnglandCounties   
			 North-east   
			 Cleveland 6.4 5.8 
			 Durham 6.4 5.7 
			 Northumberland 16.0 15.1 
			 Tyne and Wear 5.4 3.1 
			
			 North-west   
			 Cheshire 4.4 3.8 
			 Cumbria 9.5 8.0 
			 Greater Manchester 3.7 2.1 
			 Lancashire 4.6 3.7 
			 Merseyside 3.8 2.6 
			
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 
			 Humberside 2.6 2.7 
			 North Yorkshire 7.3 6.7 
			 South Yorkshire 7.4 6.7 
			 West Yorkshire 5.2 4.6 
			
			 East Midlands   
			 Derbyshire 7.4 5.1 
			 Leicestershire 3.8 3.0 
			 Lincolnshire 3.2 3.2 
			 Northamptonshire 6.1 5.0 
			 Nottinghamshire 8.0 7.0 
			
			 West Midlands   
			 Hereford and Worcester 9.1 7.3 
			 Shropshire 8.5 7.2 
			 Staffordshire 7.8 6.2 
			 Warwickshire 4.7 3.5 
			 West Midlands 3.1 2.0 
			
			 East   
			 Bedfordshire 6.2 5.0 
			 Cambridgeshire 3.6 1.9 
			 Essex 5.3 4.1 
			 Hertfordshire 9.5 7.6 
			 Norfolk 9.8 7.9 
			 Suffolk 8.3 7.4 
			 Greater London 3.9 3.8 
			 South-east   
			 Berkshire 14.5 13.5 
			 Buckinghamshire 9.5 8.3 
			 East Sussex 16.7 15.6 
			 Hampshire 17.7 16.4 
			 Isle of Wight 12.0 9.7 
			 Kent 10.6 11.4 
			 Oxfordshire 7.0 6.0 
			 Surrey 22.4 18.8 
			 West Sussex 18.9 17.4 
			
			 South-west   
			 Avon 6.3 5.1 
			 Cornwall 7.5 5.1 
			 Devon 9.9 8.0 
			 Dorset 10.8 9.4 
			 Gloucestershire 11.2 10.0 
			 Somerset 7.0 5.6 
			 Wiltshire 7.9 7.1 
			
			 Walesformer counties 
			 Clwyd 10.0 9.1 
			 Dyfed 13.5 10.4 
			 Glamorgan (mid, south-west) 18.6 15.3 
			 Gwent 13.8 12.3 
			 Gwynedd 12.6 11.0 
			 Powys 14.8 12.7 
			
			 Scotlandformer regions 
			 Borders 18.5 14.5 
			 Central 20.1 13.4 
			 Dumfries and Galloway 26.8 21.1 
			 Fife 11.6 10.3 
			 Grampian 18.1 15.0 
			 Highland 13.6 9.2 
			 Lothian 10.4 8.0 
			 Strathclyde 23.5 15.2 
			 Tayside 13.8 9.6 
			 Western Isles 0.8 n/a 
			 Orkney 0.0 n/a 
			 Shetland 0.0 n/a 
			
			 Northern Ireland 6.0 4.9 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Differences in methodology between the two surveys may account for some of the differences.
	2. Available breakdown by local authority relates to the structure in 1980
	3. Northern Ireland figure published by the Forest Service.

Whaling

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take sanctions against those cultures who (a) are undertaking and (b) intend to undertake illegal whaling.

Ben Bradshaw: We are not aware of any countries which currently undertake (or intend to undertake) illegal whaling. All those members of the International Whaling Commission which conduct whaling operations do so legally. We continue to protest at the highest diplomatic level against those countries' activities; together with other like-minded countries, we made known our opposition to Japanese 'scientific' whaling in a recent joint demarche; in addition, together with colleagues from the French and German embassies, HM ambassador in Reykjavik issued a statement on 24 May repeating our strong opposition to Iceland's continuing 'scientific whaling' programme.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Ethiopia

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the current status of agreements to issue reduced price HIV retrovirals in Ethiopia.

Hilary Benn: In January 2005, the Government of Ethiopia launched a programme to provide anti-retroviral therapy (ART) free of charge for people living with HIV and AIDS . Under this programme, 200 health care facilities will provide ART free of charge to 41,000 people living with HIV and AIDS by the end of this year; by the end of 2006 it is expected that an additional 100,000 patients will benefit from free ART provided by over 300 health care facilities.
	By 2010 it is expected that antiretroviral drugs to treat 320,000 patients in Ethiopia will be procured using funds pledged by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM), to which the UK has to date contributed 259 million.
	Although Ethiopia's free ART programme will inevitably be heavily dependent on external assistance in the short term, plans to facilitate local manufacture of anti-retroviral drugs, increase government funding for HIV/AIDS programmes and introduce social health insurance schemes are expected to improve prospects for sustainability.

Iraq

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate his Department has made of the total monthly cost to the UK of civil operations in Iraq since March 2003.

Hilary Benn: Monthly DFID expenditure on humanitarian and reconstruction assistance to Iraq since March 2003 has been:
	
		
			 Month Bilateral projects Payments to multilateral agencies Total 
		
		
			 2003
			 March  7,400,000 7,400,000 
			 April 35,098  35,098 
			 May 152,823 35,785,100 35,937,923 
			 June 704,549 10,600,000 11,304,549 
			 July 599,212 400,000 999,212 
			 August 1,551,931 1,025,000 2,576,931 
			 September 918,918 32,835,187 33,754,105 
			 October 2,506,797  2,506,797 
			 November 2,580,545 5,116,312 7,696,857 
			 December 2,396,104  2,396,104 
			 
			 2004
			 January 4,182,744 3,000,000 7,182,744 
			 February 5,820,468 358,573 6,179,041 
			 March 15,850,702 82,892,652 98,743,354 
			 April 1,487,010  1,487,010 
			 May 2,894,577  2,894,577 
			 June 4,155,992  4,155,992 
			 July 2,437,976  2,437,976 
			 August 4,637,169  4,637,169 
			 September 4,270,838  4,270,838 
			 October 2,549,869  2,549,869 
			 November 6,663,411  6,663,41 1 
			 December 2,818,910 262,500 3,081,410 
			 
			 2005
			 January 1,496,116  1,496,116 
			 February 2,206,802  2,206,802 
			 March 3,137,196 10,000,000 13,137,196 
			 April 807,177  807,177 
			 May 864,168 358,573 1,222,741 
			 June 3,488,257  3,488,257 
		
	
	DFID has also disbursed 4.6 million for UK and overseas administrative costs for the programme. Total DFID spending on Iraq from March 2003 to June 2005 was 275 million. Variations in bilateral expenditure from month to month reflect when invoices were received for completed work on different projects.
	Civil spending by other Government Departments over the same period included:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 Foreign and Commonwealth Office 89 
			 Global Conflict Prevention Pool (joint DFID, FCO and  MOD) 23 
		
	
	Other Government Departments met the salary costs of civil servants seconded to work in Iraq during the period between April 2003 and June 2004.

Iraq

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been spent by coalition countries on the reconstruction of Iraq in each month since March 2003.

Hilary Benn: Monthly DFID expenditure on humanitarian and reconstruction assistance to Iraq since March 2003 has been:
	
		
			 Month Bilateral projects Payments to multilateral agencies Total 
		
		
			 2003
			 March  7,400,000 7,400,000 
			 April 35,098  35,098 
			 May 152,823 35,785,100 35,937,923 
			 June 704,549 10,600,000 11,304,549 
			 July 599,212 400,000 999,212 
			 August 1,551,931 1,025,000 2,576,931 
			 September 918,918 32,835,187 33,754,105 
			 October 2,506,797  2,506,797 
			 November 2,580,545 5,116,312 7,696,857 
			 December 2,396,104  2,396,104 
			 
			 2004
			 January 4,182,744 3,000,000 7,182,744 
			 February 5,820,468 358,573 6,179,041 
			 March 15,850,702 82,892,652 98,743,354 
			 April 1,487,010  1,487,010 
			 May 2,894,577  2,894,577 
			 June 4,155,992  4,155,992 
			 July 2,437,976  2,437,976 
			 August 4,637,169  4,637,169 
			 September 4,270,838  4,270,838 
			 October 2,549,869  2,549,869 
			 November 6,663,411  6,663,411 
			 December 2,818,910 262,500 3,081,410 
			 
			 2005
			 January 1,496,116  1,496,116 
			 February 2,206,802  2,206,802 
			 March 3,137,196 10,000,000 13,137,196 
			 April 807,177  807,177 
			 May 864,168 358,573 1,222,741 
			 June 3,488,257  3,488,257 
		
	
	In total, DFID has disbursed 271 million on humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in Iraq since March 2003. Variations in bilateral expenditure from month to month reflect when invoices were received for completed work on different projects. DFID also provides 19 per cent. of European Community development funding: EC assistance to Iraq totalled 318.5 million for 2003 and 2004, and 205 million has been approved for 2005.
	The Global Conflict Prevention Pool (GCPP), funded jointly by DFID, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Ministry of Defence (MOD), disbursed 23 million on Iraq in 200304 and 200405. In addition, the FCO has spent 38 million on reconstruction activities in Iraq. The MOD has committed 30 million to Quick Impact Projects, most of which has been disbursed.
	Comparable figures for other coalition countries are not available. We estimate that their spending on reconstruction programmes since March 2003 has totalled about US $10.3 billion, primarily from the USA (about $8.75 billion) and Japan (about $1.3 billion).

Malaria

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what anti-malaria drugs the Government fund (a) directly, (b) through non-government organisations and (c) through the UN.

Gareth Thomas: UK support for anti-malarial drugs is through bilateral and multilateral channelswhich includes UN agencies. We do not keep specific data on the volume on value of the anti-malarial drugs that go through these different channels.
	DFID is a major donor to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM). We have pledged more than 259 million through to 2008. Approximately 31 per cent. of GFATM funds go to malariaand 49 per cent. of all GFATM funds are used for drugs and commodities, including anti-malarial treatments. These funds support both government and NGO programmes. The UK has provided 48.5 million to the Roll Back Malaria Partnership since 1998 and we are also a major donor to the World Bank which has recently announced the Booster programme for Malaria Control programmes.
	Our bilateral programme supports malaria control in two ways. First there are malaria specific programmesand some of these provide anti-malarial drugs. Second, national malaria control programmes (and thus anti-malarial drugs) are funded through our broader health sector programmes and poverty reduction budget support.
	From 199899 to date, UK support at country level to specific malaria programmes was approximately 58 million. In addition we have provided approximately 59 million for projects targeted on malaria and other diseases that impact on malaria control. This funding is part of over 1.5 billion committed by the UK to health programmes since 1997.
	The UK does not have a specific policy on which anti-malarial drugs it funds through its different programmes. We look to developing countries to determine anti-malarial policies appropriate to local resistance patterns and also to the World Health Organisation as the international technical health agency to work with these countries to develop their policies. Recently many countries in sub-Saharan Africa have moved to a policy of recommending Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT) as first line treatment for malaria.

Asian Tsunami

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the extent to which aid to tsunami victims has reached the poorest people affected by the disaster; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that aid reaches such people.

Gareth Thomas: The immediate response to the tsunami has been widely acknowledged as an effective response to all who suffered from the disaster and needed rapid support. We channelled the bulk of our immediate relief and recovery support through experienced humanitarian organisations whose targeting of beneficiaries will have helped ensure that the vulnerable and poor received assistance.
	DFID has allocated up to 65 million to meet reconstruction needs. From this allocation 31 million has been committed to the Multi Donor Trust Fund in Indonesia, of which 6 million has so far been paid out. A further 5 million has been committed for technical assistance in Indonesia to help ensure timely, accountable and equitable provision of reconstruction assistance and rebuilding of livelihoods. A total of 2 million has been committed to Sri Lanka to help speed up implementation of reconstruction programmes and to ensure equitable distribution of assistance, and 3 million to India to provide technical assistance aimed at ensuring effective, transparent and equitable programming of tsunami reconstruction efforts. The remaining 24 million of the 65 million allocation for reconstruction has not yet been committed.

UN Convention Against Corruption

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions his Department has had with other EU countries regarding UK ratification of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: DFID has regular discussions in many fora with our EU partners about anti-corruption measures, including the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). These fora include the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) where DFID has been leading the development of a set of principles to promote stronger donor action and collaboration against corruption, using UNCAC as the policy framework.
	The UK very much hopes to ratify the UNCAC by the end of this year. Ratification now depends on Orders in Council. We are committed to introducing Orders in Council under Part Eleven of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 by October. Orders in Council are also required under the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990 and should be introduced by December 2005. Scotland and Northern Ireland will need to produce corresponding orders before full ratification.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Purchasing

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the companies from which her Department has purchased goods and services of a total value above 1 million in each of the last three years; and how much was spent in respect of each company.

Richard Caborn: DCMS has only contracted with one company regarding goods and services in excess of 1 million in the last three years and that company is our Information Technology provider, Atos Origin (previously Schlumberger Sema). The amounts are as follows:
	
		
		
			  Amount 
		
		
			 200203 3,639,562 
			 200304 3,922,710 
			 200405 5,244,474

Historic Houses

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what steps are being taken to reduce the coincidence of regulation from different Government agencies which impacts on the management and operation of historic houses open to the public;
	(2)  what steps are being taken to co-ordinate efforts across Government Departments to support the historic environment and the work of organisations which work to preserve the built heritage, with particular reference to the Historic Houses Association.

David Lammy: holding answer 12 July 2005
	With ODPM, Defra and DfES and HMT, we work closely with the historic and built environment sectors, including the Historic Houses Association. We are well aware of their concerns about the impact of regulation on private houses open to the public.

Licensing

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what complaints she has received from licence applicants under the Licensing Act 2003 concerning the requirements for statutory plans of premises.

James Purnell: I know that some applicants have concerns about meeting the requirements for plans to accompany licence applications under the 2003 Act. These issues have been formally raised in the High Level Group of senior stakeholders which we established to monitor the implementation of the 2003 Act and identify actions to help ensure a smooth transition. As a result of discussions at the High Level Group, I recently wrote to all chief executives of local authorities to express the Group's hope that authorities would look favourably at using or amending existing plans and, where necessary, be as flexible as possible about allowing alternative scales.

Plundered Material

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether it is her policy to legislate to enable the return of plundered material from the Second World War held in UK museums and galleries if advised to do so by the Spoliation Advisory Panel.

David Lammy: Ministers are now considering their response to the Spoliation Advisory Panel's recent recommendation that the Government should legislate to enable the return of objects within the panel's Terms of Reference. Any legislation would be the result of extensive discussions with the museum sector and, particularly, with the National Museum Directors' Conference as well as with other interested parties and the panel itself.

Sports (Participation)

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimates her Department has made of drop out rates for participation in sport among 16 and 17-year-olds in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: My Department does not have exact figures for each year since 1997. However, we can estimate that participation for young men drops from 91 per cent. to 81 per cent. between the 15 to 16-year-old age group and 16 to 19-year-old age group. For young women it drops from 78 per cent. to 65 per cent.
	These figures are derived from Sport England's Young People and Sport Survey 2002 and The General Household survey 2002. Definitions of participation are slightly different across the two surveys but are broadly comparable to having taken part on at least one occasion in the previous four weeks.

TRANSPORT

Crossrail

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much office space is occupied by Cross London Rail Links Ltd.; and what rent has been paid for office space for this purpose in each year from 1997.

Derek Twigg: This is a matter for Cross London Rail Links Ltd. (CLRLL). I understand from CLRLL that it currently occupies 1,900m 2 of office space; and that, since the company's formation in 2001, it has paid the following rent for office space:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 200102 878,000 
			 200203 626,000 
			 200304 746,000 
			 200405 1,907,000

Crossrail

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost to his Department of the Crossrail project, broken down by (a) wages, (b) office costs and (c) other costs was in the last year for which figures are available.

Derek Twigg: The unit that deals with Crossrail sponsorship in the Department, which includes the Crossrail hybrid Bill team, had wage costs in the financial year 200405 of 642,267; office costs of 77,870; and other costs (primarily consultancy) of 1,937,094.
	The Department provided 154 million to the Crossrail development company, Cross London Rail Links Ltd. in 2001.

English Wine

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that English wine is made available at dinners, receptions and parties he hosts at which hospitality involving wine is appropriate (a) during the EU presidency and (b) generally; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: All procurement of food products by the Department is undertaken in line with the EC's procurement rules and to obtain value for money. Where possible British products are used. The organisers of events during the UK Presidency will be reminded of the availability of English wine. For ministerial meetings in Brussels and Luxembourg we are working with the Council Secretariat to try to provide British produce (as key ingredients) and drink for all meetings during the UK Presidency.

EU Driver Licensing Committee

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 23 June 2005, Official Report, column 1129W, on the EU Driver Licensing Committee, who the members are of his Honorary Medical Advisory Panels; and what relevant (a) qualifications and (b) experience each has.

Stephen Ladyman: Membership of the Secretary of State's Honorary Medical Advisory Panels is made up of eminent medical practitioners and medical scientists, usually consultants, who are acknowledged national and sometimes international experts in their particular field. Nominations are sought through the relevant professional bodies and are considered and approved as appropriate by the relevant medical Royal College. Two lay members also sit on each Panel. Members of the Medical Advisory Panels working on diabetes, eyesight and epilepsy and their qualifications are as follows:
	
		
			 Advisory Panel Members  
			 Diabetes Mellitus and Driving  
		
		
			 Professor B. M. Frier BSc. Ed MD FRCP Chairman since 2001 
			 Dr. S. G. Gilbey BA MD MRCP FRLP Member since 1997 re-appointed 2002 
			 Dr. A. B. Stevens BAO MD FRCP AFOM Member since 1997 re-appointed 2002 
			 Dr. D. Kerr DM FRCP FRCPE Member since 2001 
			 Dr .A. E. Gold BSc. Ed MD MRCP Member since 2001 
			 Professor J. Saunders MA MD FRCP Member since 2002 
			 Dr. D. T. E. Cunnah MD BSc. FRCP Member since 2002 
			 Ms M. Jackson Lay member since 2001 
			 Mrs. B. Hatton Lay member since 2001 
			   
			 Visual Disorders and Driving  
			 Mr. M. H. Miller MD FRCS FRCOphth Chairman since 2001 
			 Mr. J. Elston BSc. MD FRCS FRCOphth Member since 1998 
			 Dr. G. McIlwaine FRCS(ED) FRCOphth FRCS(Glas) Member since 2000 
			 Mr. A. Viswanathan BSc. (Hons) FRCOphth MD Member since 2002 
			 Mr. I. G. M. Duguid MD FRCS Member since 2002 
			 Mr. F. D. Ghanchi MS(Ophth) MB BS FRCOphth Member since 2002 
			 Mr A Elliott FRCP FRCS FRCOphth Member since 2003 
			 Dr. C. W. Fowler PhD FCOptom Member since 2003 
			 Dr. C. Dickinson BSc. PhD Member since 2004 
			 Dr. G. Plant MD FRCP Member since 2005 
			 Mrs. M. Cornwell Lay member since 2001 
			 Mr. R. Yates Lay member since 2001 
			   
			 Disorders of the Nervous System and Driving  
			 Professor C. P. Wartow MD BA MBCHIR FRCB FRCP Ed FRCP(London) FRCP(Glas) MRCP(UK) Chairman since 2004 
			 Professor C. J. Mathias Dphil DSc FRCP FMedsci Member since 2004 
			 Dr. P. E. M. Smith MD FRCP Member since 2004 
			 Dr. A. Johnson PhD CSTAT Member since 1996 
			 Professor A. D. Mendelow PhD FRCS Ed Member since 1998 
			 Professor D. T. Wade FRCP MD MA Member since 1998 
			 Professor M. Brada BSc. FRCP FRCR Member since 1998 
			 Mr. R. S. C. Kerr BSc. MS FRCS Member since 1998 
			 Dr. A. Zeman BA DM MRCP Member since 2001 
			 Professor I. R. Whittle PhD Ed MD FRCS Ed FRACS Member since 1998 
			 Professor G. Cruickshank FRCS Member since 2001 
			 Dr. L. Nashef MD MRCP Member since 2001 
			 Mrs. M. Cooper Lay member since 2001 
			 Mrs. J. Wightman Lay member since 2001

Magnetic Levitation

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration is being given to magnetic levitation as the propulsion system for the possible new North-South railway.

Derek Twigg: The Government have asked Sir Rod Eddington to advise on the long-term impact of transport decisions on UK productivity, stability and growth. His work will assess the effects of potential new infrastructure such as a North-South high speed line. At this very early stage, what technology might be appropriate is yet to be decided. Affordability, value for money and deliverability will be key considerations.

Railways

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on proposals to change the timetabling for trains running along the Hastings to London Victoria line.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 7 July 2005
	The Department has received correspondence from Members of Parliament and other stakeholders, and a petition requesting that current service levels are kept and enhanced.

Railways

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his plans are for the improvement of rail (a) infrastructure and (b) services in Hampshire in eachof the next three years; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: Improvements to the rail infrastructure and service in Hampshire will be considered as part of the ongoing business of the operators. In addition, Network Rail are undertaking a Route Utilisation Strategy and the DfT/SRA are working on franchise replacements for Greater Western and South Western that contain services operating in Hampshire.

Road Schemes (North-west)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the major road schemes in (a) the north-west and (b) Lancashire which are planned to start in (i) 200506 and (ii) 200607; and what the estimated cost is of each.

Stephen Ladyman: Major local road schemes in (a) the north-west and (b) Lancashire are listed in the following table. The cost of each scheme is the most recent estimated cost. The current estimated planned start dates listed are those suggested by the local highway authority.
	
		
			  Provisionally approved1 Fully approved Current estimated planned start date by local highway authority Recent cost estimate ( million) 
		
		
			 (a) North West Scheme 
			 Edge Lane West, Liverpool December 2004  October 2006 15.85 
			 Hall Lane Area Improvements, Liverpool(5) December 2000  Late 2006 12.2 
			 A58 Blackbrook Diversion, St Helens December 2002  200506 8.45 
			 The Carlisle Northern Development Route  October 2004 200607 (6)78.8 
			 Wigan Inner Relief Route(5) December 2002  200506 19.5 
			 Ashton Northern Bypass Stage 2, Tameside(5) December 2002  200506 8.29 
			 The Glossop Spur, Tameside(5) December 2002  200607 8.081 
			  
			 (b) Lancashire Scheme0

Road Traffic Accidents/Statistics

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road traffic accidents occurred in each of the last five years on the A127 between the M25 and Southend; and what proportion of these resulted in personal injury.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department for Transport does not collect statistics on damage-only accidents.
	The number of injury accidents which occurred on the A127 between the M25 and Southend in the last five years for which data are available are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Fatal accidents Serious accidents Slight accidents All accidents involving personal injury 
		
		
			 2000 3 35 38 204 
			 2001 2 38 40 209 
			 2002 2 22 24 182 
			 2003 8 32 40 185 
			 2004 4 28 32 172

Road Traffic Accidents/Statistics

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road traffic accidents occurred in each of the last five years on the A13 between the M25 and Southend; and what proportion of these resulted in personal injury.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department for Transport does not collect statistics on damage-only accidents.
	The number of injury accidents which occurred on the A13 between the M25 and Southend in the last five years for which data are available are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Fatal accidents Serious accidents Slight accidents All accidents involving personal injury 
		
		
			 2000 2 45 300 347 
			 2001 9 44 284 337 
			 2002 4 43 287 334 
			 2003 5 44 257 306 
			 2004 4 37 222 263

Road Traffic Accidents/Statistics

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road traffic accidents occurred in each of the last five years in Castle Point; and what proportion of these resulted in personal injury.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department for Transport does not collect statistics on damage-only accidents.
	The number of road traffic accidents which occurred in the district of Castle Point in the last five years for which data are available are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Fatal accidents Serious accidents Slight accidents All accidents involving personal injury 
		
		
			 2000 2 48 271 321 
			 2001 2 40 260 302 
			 2002 3 44 240 287 
			 2003 3 35 239 277 
			 2004 3 26 232 261

Road Traffic Accidents/Statistics

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road traffic accidents occurred in each of the last five years on Canvey Island; and what proportion of those resulted in personal injury.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department for Transport does not collect statistics on damage-only accidents.
	The number of road traffic accidents involving personal injury which occurred on Canvey Island in each of the last five years for which data are available are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Fatal accidents Serious accidents Slight accidents All accidents involving personal injury 
		
		
			 2000 1 17 102 120 
			 2001 0 17 100 117 
			 2002 0 15 91 106 
			 2003 1 15 85 101 
			 2004 1 8 89 98

Road Traffic Accidents/Statistics

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents occurred in each of the last five years on the A130 between the A127 and its end on Canvey Island; and what proportion of these resulted in personal injury.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department for Transport does not collect statistics on damage-only accidents.
	The number of injury accidents which occurred on the A130 between the A127 and its end on Canvey Island in the last five years for which data are available are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Fatal accidents Serious accidents Slight accidents All accidents involving personal injury 
		
		
			 2000 2 10 46 58 
			 2001 0 9 42 51 
			 2002 0 5 36 41 
			 2003 1 10 48 59 
			 2004 0 8 52 60

Road Traffic Accidents/Statistics

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what the traffic levels were on the (a) A11 (M11 to Norwich), (b) A19 Dishforth to Tyne Tunnel, (c) A42 Pepperhill to Cobham Widening, (d) A2/M2 and A249 (M2 to Sheppey) and (e) A20 Trunk Road to Roundhill tunnels in the last year for which figures are available before construction works began; and what forecast has been made of likely levels after construction works are completed;
	(2)  what the traffic levels were on the (a) A249 Iwade Bypass to Queensborough Improvement, (b) A249 Stockbury (M2) to Sheerness, (c) A30 Exeter to Bere Regis, (d) A30 Pennygillam to Bulsworthy and (e) A303/A30 (M3 to Honiton) in the last year for which figures are available before construction works began; and what forecast has been made of the likely levels after construction works are completed;
	(3)  what the traffic levels were on the (a) M1 junction 30 to 31, (b) M1 junction 31 to 32, (c) M1 junction 32 to 34 southbound and (d) M1 junction 6a to 10 in the last year for which figures are available; and what forecast has been made of likely levels after construction works are completed;
	(4)  what the traffic levels were on the (a) M1 junctions 21 to 30, (b) M25 widening, (c) M27 junctions 11 to 12, (d) M27 junctions 3 and 4 and (e) M5 junctions 19 and 20 in the last year for which figures are available; and what forecast has been made of likely levels after construction works are completed;
	(5)  what the traffic levels were on the (a) A1 Darrington to Dishforth, (b) A1 Peterborough to Blyth, (c) A1(M) Alconbury to Peterborough, (d) A1(M) Ferrybridge to Hook Moor and (e) A1(M) Wetherby to Walshford in the last year for which figures are available before construction works began; and what projections have been made of likely levels after construction works are completed;
	(6)  what the traffic levels were on the (a) A66 Penrith to Temple Sowerby, (b) A66 Temple Sowerby Bypass and Improvements at Winderwath, (c) A66 Temple Sowerby to Appleby and (d) A69 Haydon Bridge Bypass in the last year for which figures are available; and what forecast has been made of likely levels after construction works are completed;
	(7)  what the traffic levels were on the (a) M1 junctions 34 North to junction 37, (b) M1 junctions 37 to 39, (c) M1 junctions 39 to 42, (d) M1 junction 10 to 13 and (e) M1 junction 19 in the last year for which figures are available; and what forecast has been made of likely future levels after construction works are completed;
	(8)  what the traffic levels were on the (a) A483 Pant to Llanymynech Bypass, (b) A50 Trentham Lakes North Improvements, (c) A505 Dunstable Northern Bypass (A5 to M1 Link), (d) A57/A628 Mottram in Longdendale, Hollingworth and Tintwistle Bypass and (e) A595 Parton to Lillyhall Improvement in the last year for which figures are available; and what forecast has been made of likely future levels after construction works are completed;
	(9)  what the traffic levels were on the (a) A45/A46 Tollbar End Improvement, (b) A453 Widening (M1 Junction 24 to A52 Nottingham), (c) A46 Newark Widmerpool Improvement, (d) A47 Acle Straight and (e) A47 Blofield to North Burlingham Dualling in the last year for which figures are available; and what forecast has been made of likely levels after construction works are completed;
	(10)  what the traffic levels were on the (a) A14 Ellington to Fen Ditton, (b) A14 Haughley New Street to Stowmarket Improvement, (c) A2/A282 Dartford Improvement, (d) A21 South Pembury to Hastings Route Improvements and (e) A21 Tonbridge to Pembury in the last year for which figures are available; and what forecast has been made of likely levels after construction works are completed;
	(11)  what the traffic levels were on the (a) A1 Adderstone to Belford, (b) A1 Dishforth to Barton, (c) A1 Morpeth to Felton, (d) A1(M) Bramham to Wetherby and (e) A120 Braintree to Marks Tey in the last year for which figures are available; and what forecast has been made of likely levels after construction works are completed;
	(12)  what the traffic levels were on the (a) A590 High and Low Newton Bypass, (b) A63 Osgodby Bypass, (c) A64 Rillington Bypass, (d) A64 York to Scarborough Proposed Dualling and (e) A66 Appleby to Brough in the last year for which figures are available; and what forecast has been made of likely future levels after construction works are completed.

Stephen Ladyman: A table has been placed in the Libraries of the House showing traffic levels for the Highways Agency road schemes where data are available.

Road Traffic Accidents/Statistics

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of total carbon dioxide emissions from traffic on the (a) A11 (M11 to Norwich), (b) A19 Dishforth to Tyne Tunnel, (c) A2 Pepperhill to Cobham Widening, (d) A2/M2 and A249 (M2 to Sheppey) and (e) A20 Trunk Road to Roundhill tunnels in the last year for which figures are available before construction works began; how many accidents occurred on each road in that year; how many (i) fatalities and (ii) serious injuries occurred; and when each scheme is due to (A) begin and (B) be completed;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of total carbon dioxide emissions from traffic on the (a) A249 Iwade Bypass to Queensborough Improvement, (b) A249 Stockbury (M2) to Sheerness, (c) A30 Exeter to Bere Regis, (d) A30 Pennygillam to Bulsworthy and (e) A303/A30 (M3 to Honiton) in the last year for which figures are available before construction works began; how many accidents there were on each road in that year; how many resulted in (i) fatalities and (ii) serious injuries; what forecast has been made of likely levels after construction works are completed; and when each scheme is due to (A) begin and (B) be completed;
	(3)  what estimate has been made of carbon dioxide emissions from traffic on the (a) M1 junction 34 North to 37, (b) M1 junction 37 to 39, (c) M1 junction 39 to 42, (d) M1 junction 10 to 13 and (e) M1 junction 19 in the last year for which figures are available; how many accidents there were on each stretch of road in that year; how many resulted in (i) fatalities and (ii) serious injuries; what forecast has been made of likely levels after construction works are completed; and when each scheme is due to (A) begin and (B) be completed;
	(4)  what estimate has been made of carbon dioxide emissions from traffic on the (a) M1 junction 30 to 31, (b) M1 junction 31 to 32, (c) M1 junction 32 to 34 southbound and (d) M1 junction 6a to 10 in the last year for which figures are available; how many accidents there were in each stretch of road in that year; how many resulted in (i) fatalities and (ii) serious injuries; what forecast has been made of the likely levels after construction works are completed; and when each scheme is due to (A) begin and (B) be completed;
	(5)  what estimate has been made of carbon dioxide emissions from traffic on the (a) A1 Darrington to Dishforth, (b) A1 Peterborough to Blyth, (c) A1(M) Alconbury to Peterborough, (d) A1(M) Ferrybridge to Hook Moor and (e) A1(M) Wetherby to Walshford in the last year for which figures are available before construction works began; how many accidents there were on each road in that year; how many resulted in (i) fatalities and (ii) serious injuries; what forecast has been made of likely levels after construction works are completed; and when each scheme is due to (A) begin and (B) be completed;
	(6)  what estimate he has made of carbon dioxide emissions from traffic on (a) M1 junctions 21 to 30, (b) M25 widening, (c) M27 junctions 11 and 12, (d) M27 junctions 3 and 4 and (e) M5 junctions 19 and 20 in the last year for which figures are available; how many accidents there were on each road in that year; how many resulted in (a) fatalities and (ii) serious injuries; what forecast has been made of likely levels after construction works are completed; and when each scheme is due to (A) begin and (B) be completed;
	(7)  what estimate has been made of carbon dioxide emissions from traffic on the (a) A66 Penrith to Temple Sowerby, (b) A66 Temple Sowerby Bypass and Improvements at Winderwath, (c) A66 Temple Sowerby to Appleby and (d) A69 Haydon Bridge Bypass in the last year for which figures are available; how many accidents there were on each road in that year; how many resulted in (i) fatalities and (ii) serious injuries; what forecast has been made of likely levels after construction works are completed; and when each scheme is due to (A) begin and (B) be completed;
	(8)  what estimate he has made of carbon dioxide emissions from traffic on the (a) A45/A46 Tollbar End Improvement, (b) A453 Widening (M1 Junction 24 to A52 Nottingham, (c) A46 Newark to Widmerpool Improvement, (d) A47 Acle Straight and (e) A47 Blofield to North Burlingham dualling in the last year for which figures are available; how many accidents there were on each road in that year; how many resulted in (i) fatalities and (ii) serious injuries; what forecast has been made of likely levels after construction works are completed; and when each scheme is due to (A) begin and (B) be completed;
	(9)  what estimate he has made of carbon dioxide emissions from traffic on the (a) A1 Adderstone to Belford, (b) A1 Dishforth to Barton, (c) A1 Morpeth to Felton, (d) A1(M) Bramham to Wetherby and (e) A120 Braintree to Marks Tey in the last year for which figures are available; how many accidents there were on each road in that year; how many resulted in (i) fatalities and (ii) serious injuries; and when each scheme is due to (A) begin and (B) be completed;
	(10)  what estimate he has made of carbon dioxide emissions from traffic on the (a) A483 Pant to Llanymynech Bypass, (b) A50 Trentham Lakes North Improvements, (c) A505 Dunstable Northern Bypass (A5 to M1 Link), (d) A57/A628 Mottram in Longdendale, Hollingworth and Tintwistle Bypass and (e) A595 Parton to Lillyhall Improvement in the last year for which figures are available; how many accidents occurred on each stretch of road in each year; how many resulted in (i) fatalities and (ii) serious injuries; what forecast has been made of likely future levels after construction works are completed; and when each scheme is due to (A) begin and (B) be completed.

Stephen Ladyman: A table has been placed in the Libraries of the House showing carbon dioxide emission estimates for the Highways Agency road schemes where data are available.
	A table has been placed in the Libraries of the House showing, for the Highways Agency road schemes where data are available, how many accidents occurred on each road in that year; how many fatalities and serious injuries occurred; and when each scheme is due to begin and be complete.

Robin Hood Airport

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State forTransport if he will instruct relevant agencies to create a motorway link to the Robin Hood Airport, Doncaster.

Stephen Ladyman: Any new road would be for Doncaster metropolitan borough council, the local highway authority to promote. They are currently looking into the need for a new link road and may wish to discuss their findings with my officials later this year.

Safety Cameras

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance is given to local authorities with regard to their participation in safety camera partnerships.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department issues a Handbook of Rules and Guidance for the National Safety Camera Programme for England and Wales. The Handbook for 200506 can be found in the Library of the House and on the Department for Transport website, www.dft.gov.uk

Special Advisers

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list (a) the special advisers in his Department, (b) their specific areas of expertise and (c) the total cost of employing them in the latest year for which figures are available.

Karen Buck: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 4 July 2005, Official Report, column 36W.

Trains

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason 30 train units were diverted by the Strategic Rail Authority to other train operating companies from South West Trains; what research was carried out into the consequences of the reduction in capacity; what plans he has to provide replacements for the 30 units; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The original agreement to supply Desiro rolling stock to SWT was linked to a 20-year franchise being awarded, and assumed significant infrastructure works to accommodate these units. The interim three-year franchise did not provide for such investment, and therefore 30 units could not be deployed in the short-term.
	The current franchise replacement process will seek to address the provision of capacity for the SWT area and the appropriate deployment of rolling stock.

Vehicle Licensing

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many British petrol engined vehicles licensed for use on British roads were built prior to 1993.

Stephen Ladyman: At 31 March 2005, there were 3,235,000 licensed petrol propelled vehicles that were first registered before 1993. This represents 13.7 per cent. of all petrol propelled vehicles.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Clearing Banks

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will refer the banks' practice of taking three days to clear cash from one account to another to the Office of Fair Trading; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In the first instance questions regarding competition or consumer issues in the banking sector are a matter for the independent competition authorities, in this case the Office of Fair Trading.
	The Office of Fair Trading chairs the Payment Systems Task Force, which includes representatives from the banking industry, consumers, business and government. The Task Force recommended in May that a faster payments service be introduced for telephone and internet banking payments, with the ability to accept standing order payments. Instead of taking three days, payments would either be made same day, or overnight. The industry will report back to the Task Force with a full specification by the end of this year, with full implementation two years after that.

Design and Artist Copyright Society

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many meetings his Department has had with representatives of the (a) art market and(b) Design and Artist Copyright Society since 1 April.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 11 July 2005
	The Department has had one meeting with the British Art Market Federation and two with the Design and Artists Copyright Society.

Directorate Staff

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many members of each Directorate have taken voluntary redundancy since October 2003; and for what reasons.

Alan Johnson: The following table shows the number of staff in each Directorate who have taken voluntary early severance and voluntary early retirement since October 2003.
	Their reasons for doing so are not recorded.
	
		
			  Voluntary early: 
			 Directorate Severance Retirement 
		
		
			 Business Relations 51 84 
			 Business Support 3 0 
			 Consumer and Competition Policy Directorate 7 19 
			 Corporate Law and Governance 4 16 
			 Energy Industries and Technology Unit 8 23 
			 Energy Markets Unit 3 9 
			 Employment Relations 8 15 
			 Energy Resources and Development Unit 4 8 
			 Energy strategy Unit 2 2 
			 Europe and World Trade 7 10 
			 Finance and Resource Management 5 13 
			 Human Resources and Change Management 3 15 
			 Industry Economics and Statistics 2 3 
			 Innovation Group 14 23 
			 Information and Workplace Services 8 22 
			 Legal 16 12 
			 Ministerial and Parliamentary Support Team 8 13 
			 Office of Manpower Economics 2 5 
			 Office of Science and Technology 6 8 
			 Project Work Team 6 6 
			 Regions 3 9 
			 Small Business Service 13 23 
			 Strategy Communications Unit 7 6 
			 Shareholder Executive 2 3 
			 UK Trade and Investment 35 28 
			 Women and Equality Unit 5 3 
			 Export Control and Non-Proliferation 4 9 
			 Other small directorates(4) 2 9 
		
	
	(4) This represents British National Space Centre, Internal Audit, Low Pay Commission and the Strategic Policy Analysis Unit where the numbers are small and there is a risk staff could be identified.

I-dialling

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to tackle the problems arising from i-dialling.

Alun Michael: By i-dialling I take it that the hon. Member means rogue diallers on the internet running up large bills for consumers. The Government asked Ofcom to carry out a review of premium rate services regulation to ensure that the right level of protection is in place to protect consumers. Ofcom has now produced its report with recommendations designed to improve the effectiveness of premium rate regulation. We are working with the premium rate regulator, ICSTIS, and Ofcom to implement these recommendations as soon as possible. This Department is currently consulting on implementing recommendation 6 from the Ofcom report on increasing the maximum fine for breaches of the ICSTIS code from 100,000 to 250,000.

Late Payments

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce measures to amend the Late Payment of Commercial Debts Act 1998 to ensure the strict application of the 30 day limit and increased compensation for late payments.

Barry Gardiner: The Government are determined to improve the UK's payment culture. That is why we introduced legislation giving suppliers a statutory right to claim interest on late paid bills. The Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 provides a useful tool for companies suffering from late payment to use 'if they wish' to claim compensation and interest on late debts. The legislation sets a default period of 30 days if there is no other agreed credit period. The default period does not constitute a statutory credit period and therefore its strict application cannot be enforced.
	The interest rate, at 8 per cent. over the Bank of England base lending, rate is the highest in Europe for late payment legislation. In comparison the EC directive on late payment sets a rate of 7 per cent. over the ECB rate. The legislation also allows for a compensation amount up to 100 to be claimed in addition to the interest.
	In a recent survey the Credit Management Research Centre of Leeds university found that overall, 62 per cent. of firms reported that they do specify their rights to customers under the late payment legislation and that 75 per cent. of large firms are more likely to do so.
	The Government want more companies to agree credit terms and define payment periods up front, using the legislation as a backup measure to their normal trading relationship.

Peninsula Power Ltd.

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what payments have been made to date by the South West Regional Development Agency to or on behalf of Peninsula Power Ltd. and its officers, directors or shareholders; what the reasons for the payments were in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Alun Michael: I have asked the chief executive of the Agency to write to the hon. Member: a copy of that letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Offices

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices in Northern Ireland have closed in each of the past 10 years.

Barry Gardiner: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL) and the chief executive has been asked to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Post Offices

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices were in operation in Southend in each of the last 10 years.

Barry Gardiner: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL) and the chief executive has been asked to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Post Offices

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had with the Royal Mail about delivery of mail in Southend.

Barry Gardiner: DTI Ministers and officials meet with representatives from Royal Mail on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of issues, including delivery performance issues.
	We are pleased to see that Royal Mail's quality of service has improved overall over the past year. We have received assurances from Allan Leighton and Adam Crozier that the Board will continue to give quality of service top priority.

Premium Rate Telephone Lines

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made on implementing Ofcom's 2004 recommendations on regulating premium rate telephone lines.

Alun Michael: The recommendation on traffic monitoring and information sharing by operators was implemented on 24 May. The key recommendation, that network operators should not make payments to service providers for at least 30 days after calls have been made, will be implemented very shortly through an emergency change to the ICSTIS code of practice. This Department is currently consulting on raising the fines for breaches of the ICSTIS code, and we expect the other recommendations to be implemented by early in 2006 at the latest.

TREASURY

Automated Telling Machines

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will make an assessment of the implications for the financial services of changes in the number of ATM providers which charge for cash withdrawals;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of (a) the number and (b) the percentage of ATMs which charged for cash withdrawals in (i) 1999, (ii) 2002 and (iii) 2004.

Ivan Lewis: In 1999 most banks and building societies had agreements with a subset of other banks and building societies from which their customers could obtain free ATM withdrawals. If customers used any other ATMs they would be charged by their bank or building society. There were no independently owned LINK ATMs as only banks and building societies were able to access the LINK network directly.
	Since 1999, virtually all UK banks and building societies have made a commitment to offer their ATMs free of charge to customers of other UK banks and building societies. There are now over 30,000 free ATMs in the UK. In 2000 LINK was opened up to independent ATM operators. Some of the ATMs deployed by these operators charge for ATM withdrawals. The majority of these charging ATMs are in new locations where previously there was no cash machine. In October 2002 LINK figures show that there were 10,066 charging ATMs in the UK and in October 2004 there were 19,659. However, less than 4 per cent. of withdrawals are made at charging cash machines.
	The Government have responded to the Treasury Committee's recent report on Cash Machine Charges (Treasury Committee's Fifth Report of Session 200405) and the Treasury Committee is expected to publish the response shortly, once it has been re-appointed following the General Election. The Government's response sets out policy on the issue in more detail.

Bedfordshire (Statistics)

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average earnings of a full-time employee in the constituency of Mid-Bedfordshire were in April in each year since 2000.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mrs. Nadine Dorries, dated 13 July 2005
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question what the average gross earnings of full time employees in the constituency of Mid-Bedfordshire were in April in each year since 2000. (11014)
	Average earnings are estimated from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings and are provided for employees on adult rates of pay whose pay was unaffected by absence during the pay period, by their place of work. This is the standard definition used for Annual Survey of Hours and Earning tables. The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings does not collect data on the self employed and people who do unpaid work.
	I attach a table showing the mean and median gross weekly earnings for full time employees in Mid-Bedfordshire in each year since 2000. These results are also available on the National Statistics website on table 9:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/STATBASE/Product.asp?vlnk=13101
	The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, carried out in April of each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. It has a one per cent sample of all employees.
	
		Gross weekly earnings, means and medians, for full-time employees in Mid-Bedfordshire Parliamentary Constituency for 200004
		
			  Median () CV(5) Mean () CV(5) 
		
		
			 2000 394.1 7.1 483.3 6.6 
			 2001 401.9 8.9 473.6 6.6 
			 2002 423.4 7.8 492.9 6.9 
			 2003 457.8 7.2 554.4 6.8 
			 2004 excluding(6) 498.4 8.9 585.8 7.1 
			 2004 including(6) 497.5 8.9 581.7 7.1 
		
	
	(5) Guide to quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) is given to indicate the quality of a figure, the smaller the CV value the better the quality. Figures that have a CV value greater than 20 per cent. are considered to be unreliable. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV, e.g. for an average of 200 with a CV of 5 per cent. we would expect the population average to be within the range 180 to 220.
	(6) In 2004 a number of supplementary surveys were introduced to improve the coverage of ASHE. Data is presented for 2004 both including and excluding these supplementary surveys. The data excluding supplementary surveys enables a direct comparison to 2003.
	Notes:
	1. The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) carried out in April of each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. It is a 1 per cent. sample of all employees.
	2. The ASHE replaces the New Earnings Survey (NES) from October 2004. The main difference between the ASHE and NES being that estimates are weighted to population totals from the Labour Force Survey.
	3. Average gross weekly earnings for adult full-time employees whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence.
	Source :
	Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, ONS.

Bulk Annuity Market

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will investigate the workings of the bulk annuity market.

Ivan Lewis: The Treasury continues to work closely with the Financial Services Authority, the Department for Work and Pensions and other stakeholders to maintain an up-to-date understanding of the market for private pension provision in the UK. This includes the market for individual and bulk annuities.

Departmental Staff

David Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many full-time equivalents have worked for the Department for each of the last five financial years for which figures are available.

John Healey: The information requested is given in Table C of Civil Service Statistics 2004 which is available on the internet at http://www.civilservice. gov.uk/management_information/statistical_informati on/statistics/publications/xls/report_2004/table_c.xls.
	This table shows the numbers of staff by Department and agency between 1998 and 2004, on a full-time equivalent basis. Copies of Civil Service Statistics are also available in the Library.

Drug Imports

Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes have taken place in the level of imports into the UK of (a) heroin, (b) cocaine and (c) cannabis in each year since 1998.

Dawn Primarolo: The methodologies used to estimate the amounts of illegal drugs imported do not currently enable us to identify year on year changes.
	The National Criminal Intelligence Service has previously published estimates of the amounts of heroin and cocaine smuggled into the UK annually. It is likely that imports of heroin and cocaine during the period you refer to fell within the range of these estimates: 2535 tonnes of heroin and 3545 tonnes of cocaine. No similar estimates have been produced for cannabis imports.
	Reports on the prevalence of the use of illegal drugs during this period suggests that, since 1998, quantities of heroin imported have probably remained broadly stable and amounts of cocaine imported have increased.
	In the case of cannabis, research into the UK cannabis market suggests that levels of imports have remained broadly stable or even declined as cultivation within the UK has increased.

Drug Imports

Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the percentage of imported illegal drugs that have been intercepted by Customs and Excise in each of the past 10 years.

Dawn Primarolo: The methodologies used to estimate the amounts of illegal drugs imported do not currently enable us to identify year on year changes.
	The National Criminal Intelligence Service has previously published estimates of the amounts of heroin and cocaine smuggled into the UK annually. It is likely that imports of heroin and cocaine during the period you refer to fell within the range of these estimates: 2535 tonnes of heroin and 3545 tonnes of cocaine. No similar estimates have been produced for cannabis imports.
	Reports on the prevalence of the use of illegal drugs during this period suggests that, since 1998, quantities of heroin imported have probably remained broadly stable and amounts of cocaine imported have increased.
	In the case of cannabis, research into the UK cannabis market suggests that levels of imports have remained broadly stable or even declined as cultivation within the UK has increased.
	The following table gives details of HM Revenue and Customs seizures of drugs over the 10 years up to 200304, the last complete year for which figures are available.
	
		Kgs
		
			 Financial year Heroin Cocaine Other Class A Ecstasy Cannabis 
		
		
			 200304 1,626 20,727 116 1,245 57,617 
			 200203 2,070 8,767 44 668 59,034 
			 200102 1,489 6,075 113 1,330 67,061 
			 200001 2,043 7,420 305 1,060 41,776 
			 19992000 2,707 2,525 1,900 800 77,853 
			 199899 594 3,540 1,542 (7) 62,028 
			 199798 1,821 2,356 1,548 (7) 80,380 
			 199697 664 1,273 1,604 (7) 77,350 
			 199596 1,249 752 1,016 (7) 49,811 
			 199495 906 1,391 994 (7) 63,677 
		
	
	(7) Not separately recorded

Electoral Numbers

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the 50 parliamentary constituencies with the (a) highest and (b) lowest number of electors; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply. I have placed a copy of his letter in the Library.

English Wine

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure that English wine is made available at dinners, receptions and parties he hosts at which hospitality involving wine is appropriate (a) during the EU presidency and (b) generally; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: English wine was served at both the G7 Finance Ministers' Meeting in February and the pre-G8 Summit Finance Ministers' Meeting in June. We will endeavour to supply wine from all parts of the United Kingdom, and British produce more generally, at meetings during the presidency of the EU. We are also working with the Council Secretariat to try to provide British produce (as key ingredients) and drink for all ECOFIN Council meetings during the UK presidency in Brussels and Luxembourg.
	For other dinners, receptions and parties, British wine and British products are used where possible and appropriate, in line with the EC's procurement rules and achieving value for money for the Department.

Financial Advisers

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria are used by the Financial Services Authority to determine whether a financial adviser has mis-sold a financial product.

Ivan Lewis: Financial advisers that are authorised by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) are required to comply with the FSA's Conduct of Business Rules with regard to the promotion of financial products. The FSA does not arbitrate on individual complaints made against financial firms.

Government Finance

John Hemming: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the latest forecast is of Government deficit in financial year 200506; and what the forecast deficit for 200506 was on each date that a forecast has been made since January 2003;
	(2)  what the latest forecast is of Government income in financial year 200506; and what the forecast income for 200506 was on each date that a forecast has been made since January 2003;
	(3)  what the latest estimate is of Government expenditure in financial year 200506; and what the forecast expenditure for 200506 was on each date that a forecast has been made since January 2003.

Ivan Lewis: Latest forecasts for 200506 for the Government deficit, Government revenue and total managed expenditure can be found in Tables C4 and C11 in Budget 2005. Earlier forecasts for 200506 can be found in Chapter C of previous Budgets and Annex B of earlier pre-Budget reports.

Historic Environment

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the Government's policy is on sustaining the historic environment, with particular reference to policy on organisations which work to support the built heritage through (a) grant aid, (b) tax concessions and (c) conditional exemption and acceptance in lieu;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on (a) the introduction of Historic Properties Maintenance Relief for listed Grade 1 and 2 star buildings open to the public and (b) extension to listed buildings of VAT relief for the costs of repairs.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 12 July 2005
	The Government take their responsibilities to the built heritage very seriously, and for many years successive governments have been making funds available, both directly and through the tax system, to assist with the care, repair and maintenance of historic buildings.
	Treasury officials meet their Department for Culture, Media and Sport counterparts regularly to discuss a wide range of issues and the Government are aware of the concerns of the historic environment sector. All taxes are kept under constant review and any changes are considered by the Chancellor as part of the Budget process.

International Finance Facility

Tony Baldry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the progress of the International Finance Facility following the recent meeting of G8.

Ivan Lewis: At the recent G8 Summit, Heads of State agreed to continue work on the implementation of the IFF and the pilot IFF for Immunisation (IFFIm).
	The IFF has the support of almost 80 countries. The IFFIm will be launched imminently, disbursing $4 billion to save an additional 5 million children's lives in the years to 2015.

KPMG

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make KPMG partners personally liable for the loss of VAT in the light of the decision by the London Tribunal Centre in the case of RAL (Channel Islands) Ltd., RAL Ltd., RAL Services Ltd.; RAL Machines Ltd.AndThe Commissioners of Customs and Excise.

Dawn Primarolo: The case of RAL (Channel Islands) Ltd. was referred to the European Court of Justice, which found in favour of HMRC on 12 May 2005. As a result there has been no loss of tax in this case. The Government are committed to protecting the tax system against tax avoidance, and continue to keep under review a range of options to prevent loss of tax.

Mortgage Endowment Policies

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons the Financial Services Authority is advising mortgage endowment policy holders to take legal action against their financial advisers for mis-selling policies.

Ivan Lewis: The FSA is not advising policyholders to take any particular course of action. The FSA has provided information on its website and through its consumer factsheets about the options available to consumers if they currently face a projected shortfall on their endowment mortgage or if they believe they have been mis-sold an endowment policy.

Mortgage Endowment Policies

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the criteria against which the relevant regulatory authorities make judgments on allegations of the mis-selling of mortgage endowment policies.

Ivan Lewis: The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) is an independent body that adjudicates consumer complaints against FSA authorised firms. It does not have a fixed set of criteria to use when determining whether a financial advisor has mis-sold a product. Rather, the FOS considers what is fair and reasonable to all parties, having regard to the individual circumstances of the case, the law, and any regulatory rules or advice in place at the time.
	The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) is the statutory compensation fund of last resort, which can provide compensation to eligible claimants where the investment firm responsible for the liability is itself unable to do so (usually because it has ceased to exist or is insolvent). With mortgage endowment claims, as with other mis-selling claims, FSCS looks to see whether there has been a breach of obligations giving rise to a civil liability for actual financial loss.

Mortgage Endowment Policies

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Chancellor of theExchequer what Government support is available tofinancial advisers threatened with legal action for the alleged mis-selling of mortgage endowment policies.

Ivan Lewis: The Government does not provide support to financial advisors threatened with legal action for the alleged mis-selling of mortgage endowment policies. However, the Financial Services Authority requires all authorised firms to hold sufficient Professional Indemnity Insurance.

Pension Funds

Gregory Barker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to review taxes on pension funds in the UK.

Ivan Lewis: Following consultation the Government have simplified the taxation of pensions with effect from 6 April 2006. The new pensions tax regime will replace the numerous existing complex regimes with a universal regime for tax privileged pension savings. This new regime will provide greater flexibility to some 15 million pension savers. The pensions industry has welcomed the new regime as a removal of unnecessary obstacles to planning and saving towards retirement for the vast majority of people.
	The Government will keep this aspect of the tax system, as with all others, under review.

Public Sector Employment

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what proportion of all those in employment were employed by the public sector in each year since 1996, in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) Wales, (d) Scotland, (e) Northern Ireland and (f) each Government Office Region.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mrs. Caroline Spelman, dated 13 July 2005
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about how many and what proportion of people in employment were employed by the public sector, in each year since 1996 in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) Wales, (d) Scotland, (e) Northern Ireland and (f) each Government Office Region. (11418)
	The attached table shows the estimates you have requested.
	The most reliable source of public sector employment estimateusing the National Accounts definition of the public sectoris based on returns made to ONS by public sector organisations. The first two columns of the attached table show figures from this source for the number and proportion of people employed in the public sector in the UK respectively for the period 1996 to 2004. These estimates were published previously in a web-based report in March 2005 entitled Public Sector Employment.
	A disaggregration of public sector employment by region is currently only available from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) households on the basis of respondents' own self-classification of whether they work in the public sector. However this produces an overestimate of the proportion of total employment which is in the public sector as seen by comparing the second and third columns. Nevertheless if this degree of overestimation is similar in each region the regional differences shown in the table are meaningful. The third to sixteenth columns of the table show the UK and regional figures for the proportion of public sector employment from 1996 to 2004 on this basis. ONS has work in hand to improve the public/private sector classification of employment in the LFS. Data from the LFS, as with any statistical sample survey, is subject to sampling variability.
	
		Number and proportion of people employed in the public sector, 19962004, not seasonally adjusted
		
			  Data from public sector organisations(8) Region/Country of residence (%) 
			  UK Number (000) UK (%) UK North-east North-west Yorkshire and Humberside East Midlands West Midland 
		
		
			 1996 5,269 20.2 23.8 27.2 24.2 23.9 22.0 21.4 
			 1997 5,175 19.5 22.7 26.3 23.9 23.1 21.1 20.5 
			 1998 5,163 19.3 22.4 26.5 23.1 23.3 20.6 19.7 
			 1999 5,206 19.2 22.6 26.5 22.4 22.9 20.1 20.9 
			 2000 5,288 19.2 22.7 24.6 24.6 24.4 19.9 21.3 
			 2001 5,378 19.4 22.9 27.0 25.1 23.3 19.3 21.1 
			 2002 5,484 19.7 23.2 27.8 24.8 23.5 20.7 22.1 
			 2003 5,634 20.0 23.4 28.0 25.4 24.8 20.9 22.0 
			 2004 5,746 20.3 24.3 28.3 25.3 26.8 23.5 22.7 
		
	
	
		
			  Region/Country of residence (%) 
			  Eastern England London South East South West England Wales Scotland Northern Ireland 
		
		
			 1996 21.7 25.3 20.7 22.7 22.9 27.2 28.4 30.1 
			 1997 19.6 23.3 19.6 21.9 21.8 26.2 27.7 30.5 
			 1998 19.5 22.5 19.9 22.1 21.5 26.6 27.2 30.0 
			 1999 20.5 22.9 20.0 21.3 21.6 27.6 27.1 29.7 
			 2000 20.7 21.1 19.9 22.0 21.8 29.0 26.8 29.5 
			 2001 21.0 22.5 19.9 21.9 22.0 27.9 27.0 28.8 
			 2002 20.2 22.7 20.2 22.5 22.3 29.0 27.2 30.3 
			 2003 20.6 21.6 20.3 23.2 22.5 28.6 27.4 29.9 
			 2004 22.4 22.4 21.6 22.9 23.5 27.3 27.9 31.0 
		
	
	(8) Data from Public Sector Organisations for 1996 to 2003 refer to June (Q2) each year and for 2004 they refer to March (Q1).
	Notes:
	1. Data from the Labour Force Survey for 1996 to 2003 refer to June to August (summer) each year and for 2004 they refer to March to May (spring).
	2. LFS public private split is self-allocated by respondents and hence LFS figures are not on the official, National Accounts based definition of public sector.
	Sources:
	Estimates from public sector organisations and quarterly Labour Force Survey, Office for National Statistics.

Tax Credits

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many full-time equivalent staff are employed by the tax credit helpline.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 6 July 2005, Official Report, column 436W.

Tax Credits

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many letters have been received by HM Revenue and Customs in relation to (a) overpayments and (b) underpayment of tax credits in the last two years; and how many of these letters have not been answered.

Dawn Primarolo: Figures on the number of requests to reconsider the recovery of an overpayment are not available for 200304. For the number of requests received in 200405 I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Lanark and Hamilton, East (Mr. Hood) on 4 July 2005, Official Report, column 107W. For the number of cases still awaiting a decision at 31 May 2005 I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Chorley (Mr. Hoyle) on 4 July 2005, Official Report, column 95W.
	The Department does not hold figures relating to letters received in respect of underpayments of tax credits.

Tax Credits

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what guidance has been given to tax credit helpline staff on advising tax credit claimants to take out bank loans to cover the repayment costs of tax credit overpayments;
	(2)  how many tax credit claimants he estimates have been advised by Revenue and Customs to take out bank loans to cover the repayment costs of tax credit overpayments.

Dawn Primarolo: HMRC Contact Centre guidance does not say that claimants should be advised to take out a loan to cover their tax credit repayments.
	HMRC has issued a reminder to relevant staff to ensure that they are all aware of the correct position.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many full-time equivalent staff areemployed in each office of the Valuation Office Agency.

Dawn Primarolo: The following table shows the number of staff in each location of each Valuation Office Group. These figures exclude staff employed in the District Valuer Business Stream, Chief Executive's Office and other specialist offices.
	This report was run as at 1 April 2005.
	
		
			 Group Office Total 
			 VOA   
		
		
			 Birmingham Birmingham 103.22 
			  Coventry 52.76 
			 Birmingham total  155.98 
			
			 East Anglia Colchester 53.24 
			  Chelmsford 53.84 
			  Ipswich 42.31 
			  Norwich 52.47 
			 East Anglia total  201.87 
			
			 East Midlands Derby 60.09 
			  Leicester 51.78 
			  Lincoln 40.47 
			  Northampton 46.76 
			  Nottingham 66.21 
			 East Midlands total  265.32 
			
			 Leeds Halifax 37.57 
			  Harrogate 33.51 
			  Leeds 106.19 
			  York 35.26 
			 Leeds total  212.53 
			
			 Liverpool Chester 31.24 
			  Crewe 31.00 
			  Liverpool 81.58 
			 Liverpool total  143.82 
			
			 London-City City London 50.75 
			  Gloucester 48.67 
			  Taunton 1.00 
			  Tower Hamlets 19.98 
			 London-City total  120.40 
			
			 London-North Barking 48.44 
			  Enfield 67.22 
			  Harrow 68.39 
			 London-North total  184.05 
			
			 London-South Bromley 58.08 
			  Lambeth 46.35 
			  Wimbledon 61.39 
			 London-South total  165.83 
			
			 London-Westminster Westminster 88.25 
			 London-Westminster total  88.25 
			
			 Manchester Manchester 142.43 
			  Stockport 47.08 
			 Manchester total  189.51 
			
			 Newcastle Alnwick 17.96 
			  Durham 36.86 
			  Middlesbrough 33.26 
			  Newcastle 75.81 
			 Newcastle total  163.89 
			 North Wales Bangor 27.70 
			  Wrexham 44.99 
			 North Wales total  72.68 
			
			 North West Carlisle 21.26 
			  Lancaster 35.30 
			  Preston 59.47 
			  Ulverston 24.57 
			 North West total  140.59 
			
			 Reading Aylesbury 39.78 
			  Guildford 33.95 
			  Oxford 35.66 
			  Reigate 37.16 
			  Reading 50.09 
			 Reading total  196.65 
			
			 Sheffield Grimsby 24.49 
			  Hull 40.11 
			  Sheffield 70.57 
			 Sheffield total  135.16 
			
			 South East Chatham 5.00 
			  Eastbourne 38.36 
			  Folkestone 42.42 
			  Worthing 50.01 
			 South East total  178.69 
			
			 South Wales Cardiff 54.94 
			  Carmarthen 29.74 
			  Merthyr Tydfil 24.11 
			  Newport 30.99 
			  Swansea 30.08 
			 South Wales total  169.85 
			
			 South West Barnstaple 7.00 
			  Bournemouth 46.72 
			  Dorchester 8.44 
			  Exeter 56.07 
			  St. Austell 36.70 
			  Taunton 34.35 
			 South West total  189.28 
			
			 St. Albans Bedford 39.84 
			  Cambridge 36.12 
			  Peterborough 20.15 
			  St. Albans 51.79 
			 St. Albans total  147.91 
			
			 Wessex Basingstoke 35.97 
			  Isle of Wight 2.81 
			  Southampton 77.35 
			 Wessex total  116.14 
			
			 Western Bristol 55.07 
			  Gloucester 36.08 
			  Swindon 36.51 
			 Western total  127.66 
			
			 West Midlands Kidderminster 26.93 
			  Shrewsbury 29.80 
			  Stoke-on-Trent 60.30 
			  Worcester 35.05 
			  Wolverhampton 45.80 
			 West Midlands total  197.87 
			
			 Grand total  3,563.93

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2005, Official Report, column 386W, on council tax, what criteria the Valuations Office Agency will use to assess whether to enter a property for inspection.

Dawn Primarolo: Valuation Office Agency staff will make arrangements to undertake internal inspections of properties only where information cannot be gathered by an external inspection or through other sources.

Wage Statistics

Greg Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average gross weekly wage of full-time workers in (a) Hammersmith and Fulham, (b) Greater London and (c) the United Kingdom was in the most recent year for which figures are available.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Greg Hands, dated 13 July 2005
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question what the average gross earnings of full time workers in (a) Hammersmith and Fulham (b) Greater London and (c) the United Kingdom were in the most recent year for which figures are available. (10901)
	Average earnings are estimated from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings and are provided for employees on adult rates of pay whose pay was unaffected by absence during the pay period, by their place of work. This is the standard definition used for Annual Survey of Hours and Earning tables. The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings does not collect data on the self employed and people who do unpaid work.
	I attach a table showing the average gross weekly earnings for full time employees in Hammersmith and Fulham, Greater London and the United Kingdom in 2004. These statistics are also available on the National Statistics website on table 7:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/STATBASE/Product.asp?vlnk=13101
	The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, carried out in April of each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. It has a one per cent sample of all employees.
	
		Means and medians for full-time employees in the United Kingdom, London (Government Office Region) and Hammersmith and Fulham, 2004
		
			  Median CV percentage(9) Mean CV percentage(9) 
		
		
			 United Kingdom 422.1 0.2 504.9 0.3 
			 London 540.8 0.6 680.1 0.8 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 548.3 4.4 650.7 3.2 
		
	
	(9) Guide to quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) is given to indicate the quality of a figure, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV, e.g. for an average of 200 with a CV of 5 per cent., we would expect the population average to be within the range 180 to 220.
	Notes:
	1. The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, (ASHE), carried out in April of each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. It is a 1 per cent. sample of all employees.
	2. The ASHE replaces the New Earnings Survey (NES) from October 2004. The main difference between the ASHE and NES being that estimates are weighted to population totals from the Labour Force Survey.
	3. Average gross weekly earnings for adult full-time employees whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence.
	Source:
	Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, ONS

NORTHERN IRELAND

Organised Crime

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the (a) Police Service of Northern Ireland and (b) Irish Government on combating organised crime.

Shaun Woodward: Regular discussions on organised crime are held at ministerial and senior official level with the Chief Constable and senior officers of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Devolved Government

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent assessment he has made of the prospects for restoring devolved Government in Northern Ireland.

Andrew MacKay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the future of devolved Government in the Province.

Peter Hain: I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Members for Wirral, South (Ben Chapman), for Congleton (Ann Winterton) and for Glasgow, South (Mr. Harris).

Devolved Government

Shahid Malik: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent assessment he has made of the prospects for restoring devolved Government in Northern Ireland.

Peter Hain: The Government are committed to the restoration of a fully inclusive, devolved, power-sharing Executive in Northern Ireland at the earliest possible opportunity, which is, in turn, dependent on a complete and verifiable end to all paramilitary and criminal activity, and the decommissioning of illegally held weapons.

Crime

Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to reduce crime and the fear of crime in Northern Ireland.

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to reduce crime and the fear of crime in Northern Ireland.

David Hanson: Reducing crime and the fear of crime in Northern Ireland is a key Government priority. Through partnership working involving the Police Service of Northern Ireland, other agencies and local communities, recorded crime decreased last year by 7.7 per cent.
	The Government have a co-ordinated approach to reducing crime, the fear of crime and antisocial behaviour. In June I was pleased to announce an additional 9 million to support the Community Safety Partnership.

Paramilitaries

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland regarding ceasefires, weaponry and structures.

David Hanson: The Government are determined that paramilitary crime will come to an end. Together with the law enforcement agencies, we will ensure that measures are taken aimed at bringing that about.
	But we must also continue to provide a way out of paramilitarism into normal politics for those who wish to take it.

Taxis

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Department has spent on taxis in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: The 11 Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office have been unable to provide the information requested, as it is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Teachers

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to introduce fair employment monitoring of teachers in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: There is no requirement in the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 to monitor teachers.
	Under Article 71 of the legislation the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland has a duty to keep under review the exemption of teachers and, in December 2004, it published the results of an Investigation Report. In it the commission recommended that teachers should be included in the monitoring and review requirements of the Order.
	The commission's recommendations will be considered in the context of developing policy in the single Equality Bill for Northern Ireland.

PRIME MINISTER

Antisocial Behaviour Committee

Graham Allen: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to disclose to hon. Members a summary of proceedings of the Ministerial Committee on Antisocial Behaviour of the Cabinet.

Tony Blair: The proceedings of Cabinet and Cabinet Committee meetings are not generally disclosed, in order to ensure the protection of information whose disclosure would harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.

Business Appointments

Mike Hancock: To ask the Prime Minister whether any (a) Minister and (b) civil servant has failed to follow the advice of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments.

Tony Blair: Information relating to Ministers and civil servants whose applications are required to be submitted to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments is set out in the Advisory Committee's annual report. Copies of these reports are in the Libraries of the House. The annual report for 200405 will be published shortly.

Ministerial Residences

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Prime Minister which Ministers of the Crown have (a) one, (b) two and (c) three or more residences consequent on his or her office.

Tony Blair: The flats above numbers 10 and 11 Downing Street have traditionally been the residences of the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The flats in Admiralty House and the Government House in Pimlico, which in the past have been assigned to a variety of Ministers, are currently occupied by the Deputy Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Leader of the House of Commons and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
	In addition, I have the use of Chequers, the Foreign Secretary has the use of Chevening and the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Deputy Prime Minister have the use of Dorneywood. Ministers in the Northern Ireland Office have the use of accommodation in Hillsborough Castle and Stormont.

Swill Feed

Boris Johnson: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the items of correspondence between the Prime Minister's Unit and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs during March 2001 relating to the ban in 2001 on the feeding of swill.

Tony Blair: Information relating to internal discussion and advice is generally not disclosed as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.

DEFENCE

Aircraft Carriers

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the French Government in connection with the Royal Navy's two aircraft carriers.

Adam Ingram: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence and the other Defence Ministers routinely meet with their French opposite numbers and the United Kingdom's Future Aircraft Carrier programme has frequently been discussed in that context.

Aircraft Carriers

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  where the Royal Navy's two aircraft carriers will be built;
	(2)  if he will ensure that the Royal Navy's two aircraft carriers are built in the UK.

Adam Ingram: It is Government policy to construct Royal Navy warships in the UK. Given that both we and France are embarking on major, complex carrier procurement projects, we are examining areas of mutual benefit and opportunities to deliver economies. Co-operation through industry-to-industry links may offer potential benefits to both sides and we are running a joint study to assess what these could be. It is for industry to put forward proposals which will be judged on their merits and in light of national policies.

BAE Systems

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the timescale is of each current contract with BAE Systems.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence has some 1,100 contracts with BAE Systems. This figure excludes BAE subsidiary companies. It would incur disproportionate cost to provide details of the timescale of each contract.

Consultants

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to issue guidance on effective commissioning for those in the public and voluntary sectors who are commissioning work from external consultants.

Don Touhig: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (John Healey) on 27 June 2005, Official Report, column 1286.

Defence Export Services

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the (a) Defence Industry Days and (b) overseas exhibitions at which the Defence Export Services Organisation (i) has organised and (ii) is organising a presence during 2005; and what the cost is in each case.

Adam Ingram: Defence Industry Days do not give rise to significant costs to the Ministry of Defence because the costs, other than those incurred by Defence Export Services Organisation staff in attending, are borne by defence companies. Three such events have been held in 2005; in Spain on-board HMS Albion; in South Africa on-board HMS Portland; and in Trinidad and Tobago on-board HMS Liverpool.
	The information requested in respect of overseas exhibitions is shown in the following table. The costs given are indicative, and based on readily identifiable information only.
	
		Overseas exhibitions
		
			 Country Exhibition 
		
		
			 Australia(10) Avalon 
			 France(10) Paris Air Show 
			 Singapore(10) Imdex 
			 Singapore(10) GSA 
			 Turkey(10) IDEF(11) 
			 UAE(10) Dubai Air Show(11) 
			 Brazil(12) LAAD 
			 India(12) Aero India 
			 UAE(13) IDEX 
		
	
	(10) Below 50,000.
	(11) Estimated costs (exhibitions are yet to be attended).
	(12) 50,000 to 100,000.
	(13) 100,000 to 150,000.
	Consideration is still being given to possible further events which may be held later in the year.

Defence Export Services

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what commercial services the Defence Export Services Organisation provides to companies in relation to identifying potential agents in export markets.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 July 2005, Official Report, column 259W. Any information provided to UK companies by the Defence Export Services Organisation is concerned only with the selection of suitable agents. It is not our policy not to advise on agents' commission.

Departmental Review (Fraud)

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the outcome was of the internal Departmental Review following the allegation passed to his Department by the Serious Fraud Office in March 2001.

Adam Ingram: The allegations of fraud relayed by the Serious Fraud Office in March 2001 were established to be of no direct relevance to the Ministry of Defence.

Deployment

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK forces personnel there are on operational duty, broken down by country; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to my response on 27 June 2005, Official Report, columns 121011. In addition, the United Kingdom has the following forces deployed on other UN missions:
	
		
			 Country Number 
		
		
			 Liberia 3 
			 DRC 6 
			 Georgia 7 
			 Sudan 3

English Wine

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure that English wine is made available at dinners, receptions and parties he hosts at which hospitality involving wine is appropriate (a) during the EU presidency and (b) generally; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: All procurement of food and drink for events hosted by the Secretary of State for Defence is undertaken in line with the European Community's procurement rules, and aims to obtain value for money for the Department. British produce is given equal consideration wherever possible, however this may be dependent on contractual obligations to existing suppliers at some venues.
	With regard to formal meetings of the Council of the European Union in Brussels, we are working with the council secretariat to try to provide British produce (as key ingredients) and drink for all EU council meetings during the UK presidency.

Falkland Islands

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future requirements for UK forces in the Falklands.

Adam Ingram: The United Kingdom forces based in the Falkland Islands demonstrate the Government's continued commitment to the security of UK Overseas Territories in the South Atlantic. The level of forces is reviewed regularly and will continue to be maintained at a sufficient level to provide a credible deterrent.

Frigates

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the length of service of each Royal Navy frigate (a) withdrawn from service in each year since 1997 and (b) scheduled for withdrawal from service from 2005 onwards.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 7 July 2005
	The length of service for each Royal Navy frigate decommissioned since 1997 was as follows:
	
		
			  Years 
		
		
			 HMS Battleaxe 17 
			 HMS Boxer 18 
			 HMS Beaver 16 
			 HMS Brave 17 
			 HMS London 14 
			 HMS Coventry 15 
			 HMS Sheffield 14 
			 HMS Norfolk 15 
			 HMS Marlborough 14 
		
	
	When HMS Grafton is withdrawn from service in 2006 she will have been in service for nine years. On present plans, the expected life of the other Royal Navy frigates currently in service will be around 28 years.

Future Combat Vehicle Conference

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the outcome was of the 5th Annual Future Combat Vehicle Conference held in London on 89 June; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: From the Department's perspective, the Royal United Services Institute 5th Annual Future Combat Vehicle Conference was extremely successful since it enabled us to engage with a wide audience of allies and industry, including the major defence contractors and many small and medium enterprises. Through presentations by the Chief of the General Staff, Capability Manager (Battlespace Manoeuvre) and the Director of Equipment Capability (Ground Manoeuvre), we were able to set out our thinking on future armoured vehicle requirements, particularly in the context of Medium Weight Capability, and explain the position, challenges and future plans for our current programmes.

Future Rapid Effects System

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what financial allocation has been made for the Future Rapid Effects System project for each of the next nine years.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 21 March 2005, Official Report, column 571W.

HMS Invincible

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the planned decommissioning date for HMS Invincible is; and when this decision was taken.

Adam Ingram: HMS Invincible will be decommissioned in August 2005. She will then be placed at very low readiness from October 2005 prior to her withdrawal from service in 2010. The decision was taken in 2003.

International Fleet Review

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the maritime countries which (a) declined and (b) were not offered an invitation to participate in the International Fleet Review.

Adam Ingram: Navies from the following countries were invited to participate in the International Fleet Review:
	Algeria
	Argentina
	Australia
	Bahamas1
	Bahrain
	Bangladesh1
	Barbados 1
	Belgium
	Brazil
	Brunei
	Bulgaria
	Canada
	Chile
	China 1
	Colombia 1
	Croatia
	Denmark
	Dominican Republic 1
	Ecuador
	Egypt 1
	Estonia
	Finland
	France
	Germany
	Ghana
	Greece
	Iceland 1
	India
	Indonesia
	Iraq
	Ireland
	Israel
	Italy
	Jamaica 1
	Japan
	Jordan
	Kenya
	Kuwait 1
	Latvia
	Libya 1
	Lithuania
	Malaysia
	Malta 1
	Mexico
	Morocco
	Netherlands
	New Zealand
	Nigeria
	Norway
	Oman
	Pakistan
	Panama
	Peru 1
	Philippines 1
	Poland
	Portugal
	Qatar
	Romania
	Russia
	Saudi Arabia
	Serbia and Montenegro
	Singapore
	Slovenia 1
	South Africa
	South Korea
	Spain
	Sri Lanka
	Sweden
	Syria 1
	Thailand
	Trinidad and Tobago 1
	Tunisia 1
	Turkey 1
	Ukraine 1
	United Arab Emirates
	United States of America
	Uruguay
	Venezuela 1
	Vietnam 1
	1 Did not attend.
	No other maritime countries in addition to those listed were invited.

Lisanelly Barracks

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has for the future of Lisanelly Barracks in Omagh; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Following the decision by the General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland, in consultation with the Chief Constable of the PSNI, that the 1st Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers will not be replaced when they complete their tour in August 2006, a study is under way to look at the wider implications of this change, including the implications for our estate.
	The conclusion of this work will be announced in due course, but no decision has yet been taken on the future of Lisanelly Barracks.

Royal Navy

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the (a) Royal Navy and (b) Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels which have been given thereduced support status referred to in paragraph 2.9 of the National Audit Office report on military readiness.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 7 July 2005
	The process of designating ships to receive the reduced level of support referred to by the National Audit Office enables the Royal Navy to maintain its ability to mount a medium scale operation at short notice and maximise its ability to undertake priority peacetime tasks. The Royal Navy ships placed on reduced support status are as follows:
	HMS Invincible
	HMS Ark Royal
	HMS Albion
	HMS Cardiff
	HMS Exeter
	HMS Liverpool
	HMS Cumberland
	HMS Grafton
	HMS Marlborough
	HMS Monmouth
	HMS Richmond
	HMS St. Albans
	HMS Sutherland
	HMS Atherstone
	HMS Brecon
	HMS Cottesmore
	HMS Dulverton
	HMS Middleton
	HMS Pembroke
	HMS Penzance
	HMS Ramsey
	HMS Shoreham
	HMS Walney
	HMS Leeds Castle.
	No RFA ships are on reduced support status.

Medal Office

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff employed at the former Army Medal Office in Droitwich Spa transferred to the new Medal Office at RAF Innsworth.

Don Touhig: holding answer 11 July 2005
	21 staff employed at the former Army Medal Office in Droitwich Spa transferred to the new Medal Office at RAF Innsworth.

Military Vehicles

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) FV430 series, (b) Scimitar, (c) Sultan, (d) Samson, (e) Samaritan, (f) Spartan, (g) Striker, (h) Sabre, (i) Scorpion and (j) Saxon vehicles are in working order.

Adam Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Minehunters

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which minehunters are to be fitted with the very shallow water unmanned underwater vehicle system (REMUS); what the in-service date is; whether all minehunters will be fitted with this system; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The very shallow water unmanned vehicle system (REMUS) is a man portable system. It is not intended to be fitted to any minehunters, although it will be possible to deploy it from these, and other, vessels. The system is expected to be in service in 2006.

Nuclear Deterrent

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his oral answer of 4 July 2005, Official Report, column 6, to the hon. Member for Sunderland South (Mr. Mullin) on the nuclear deterrent, when he expects to reply substantively to the question tabled by the hon. Member for New Forest East on 21 June, ref 7290.

John Reid: I replied to the hon. Member on 5 July 2005, Official Report, column 260W.

Ordnance

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what quantity of ordnance stored by (a) his Department and (b) its suppliers is; and at what sites it is stored.

Adam Ingram: The majority of ordnance stored by the Ministry of Defence equates to 183,611m 3 held by the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency (DSDA) at the following locations: Defence Munitions Centres Beith, Crombie, Kineton, Glen Douglas, Gosport, Longtown and Eastriggs and Plymouth.
	Munitions are also held at Defence Munitions Compounds Catterick, Chelsfield, Honington, Sennybridge and Tidworth.
	Ordnance is also held on Royal Navy vessels, Royal Fleet Auxiliary supply vessels, with Field Army units, airfields and individual barracks. The information on these quantities is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The MOD is not party to information on quantities held and at what locations by suppliers.

Parliamentary Questions

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the (a) average and (b) maximum time was in which Ministers in his Department wrote to hon. Members following a commitment to do so in reply to parliamentary questions in the last Session; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  on how many occasions in each of the last eight years Ministers in his Department have not written to hon. Members in reply to parliamentary questions following an undertaking to do so; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: The information requested is not readily available and could be collated only at disproportionate cost.
	The Ministry of Defence is currently in the process of building a new parliamentary business database which will store much more comprehensive information on parliamentary questions and ministerial correspondence received by the Department. It is hoped that this will be in operation by the end of the summer recess.

Parliamentary Questions

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what procedures his Department has in place to (a) monitor and (b) ensure the fulfilment of commitments made by Ministers to write to hon. Members in reply to parliamentary questions; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether his Department has a set time period after which it considers commitments made by Ministers to write to hon. Members in reply to parliamentary questions to have lapsed; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what guidelines his Department has in place with regard to following up commitments made by Ministers to write to hon. Members in reply to parliamentary questions; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: Defence Ministers strive to answer all parliamentary questions within the timescales set by Parliament. The Ministry of Defence's parliamentary branch monitors the progress of all parliamentary questions tabled to Defence Ministers. Every effort is made to use I will write responses sparingly and to follow them up as soon as possible.
	The Ministry of Defence follows the Cabinet Office guidance on answering parliamentary questions and guidance from the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons on the handling of I will write responses. Where, regrettably, responses remained outstanding when the House was dissolved for the General Election at the end of the last Parliament, the parliamentary question was considered to have lapsed. It is open to the Member concerned to re-table the question.

Prisoners of War

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) of 27 June 2005, Official Report, column 1209W, on Prisoners of War (Compensation), what account Ministers took of the document in formulating their advice to hon. Members.

Don Touhig: As I made clear in that answer, the document was not written in connection with the formulation of policy on the Ex Gratia Scheme and thus was not relevant to the formulation of advice given to hon. Members.

RAF Aircraft

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircraft are in flight with the Royal Air Force, broken down by type.

Adam Ingram: The following tables shows the numbers of aircraft planned to be in service with the RAF by the end of the present financial year, broken down by type.
	
		Fixed wing aircraft
		
			 Aircraft type Total fleet 
		
		
			 Tornado F3 97 
			 Tornado GR 139 
			 Harrier GR 84 
			 Harrier FA2 12 
			 Jaguar 45 
			 Typhoon 29 
			 Hawk (includes the Red Arrows) 117 
			 Hercules C-l3OJ 25 
			 Hercules C-130K 25 
			 C-17A Globemaster 4 
			 VC10 16 
			 TriStar 9 
			 BAel25 6 
			 BAel46 2 
			 Islander CC2 2 
			 Canberra PR9 4 
			 Canberra T4 1 
			 Nimrod MR2 21 
			 Nimrod Rl 3 
			 Sentry E3-D 7 
			 Dominie 11 
			 Tucano MK1 114 
		
	
	
		Rotary wing aircraft
		
			 Aircraft type Total fleet 
		
		
			 Sea King HAR3 19 
			 Sea King HAR 3A 6 
		
	
	
		Battle of Britain memorial flight
		
			 Aircraft type Total fleet 
		
		
			 Spitfire 5 
			 Hurricane 2 
			 Chipmunk 2 
			 Dakota 1 
			 Lancaster 1 
		
	
	
		Commercially owned military registered aircraft
		
			 Aircraft type Total fleet 
		
		
			 Firefly 24 
			 Griffin 11 
			 King Air 7 
			 Single Squirrel 37 
			 Twin Squirrel 3 
			 Tutor 94

Regimental Mergers/Uniforms

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will reconsider the new name for the planned merger of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment, King's Own Borders Regiment and King's Regiment.

Adam Ingram: The title of the King's, Lancashire and Border Regiment has been chosen by the Regimental Councils of the three antecedent regiments themselves and fully meets the requirements of precedent and history. It is unlikely that this will change, although it is subject to confirmation, along with the new titles of the other new regiments, by the Army Honours and Distinctions Committee, who will in turn refer it to the Executive Committee of the Army Board and thence through Ministers to HM the Queen for her final approval.

Regimental Mergers/Uniforms

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 29 June 2005, Official Report, columns 156869W, on regimental uniforms, 
	(1) what the annual tax credit is; whether it varies with rank; and what the average cost of commissioning (a) Service uniform, (b) Blues and (c) Mess dress were, excluding the Foot Guards and Highland Regiments, in the last year for which figures were available;
	(2)  when he expects the next increase in Army officers' outfit allowance to be made.

Don Touhig: The Ministry of Defence does not calculate the average cost of uniform because this is a private transaction between an officer and their tailor. Nevertheless, the officers outfit allowance is awarded on first commissioning to offset this expenditure.
	There are no current plans to increase the officers outfit allowance, although consideration will be given to adjusting the allowance in the light of changes to the organisation of the infantry as part of the Future Infantry Structure.
	An annual tax credit is awarded to all officers to assist with the cost of maintaining, repairing and, when necessary, replacing uniform. The annual rate for all dismounted male officers below the rank of Coloneland therefore all officers serving with an infantry regimentis 589.29, against which an officer receives income tax relief.

Sensitive Documents

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the use of private companies to destroy sensitive departmental documents.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 7 July 2005
	The Ministry of Defence has a policy on the minimum standards to be applied for the destruction of protectively-marked material which comply with the standards laid down for Government by the Cabinet Office. A number of private companies have been certified as meeting those standards and are listed in a government-wide catalogue of security equipment and services. Subordinate commanders are permitted to decide whether to destroy protectively-marked documents using their own resources, or utilise those of an approved private company listed in the Government-wide catalogue.

Sensitive Documents

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the potential risk to national security posed by the failure to destroy Naval Support Command documents recently discovered abandoned in an Essex garage;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on past arrangements for secure disposal of sensitive documents from Naval Support Command by IMTEC Data Services.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 7 July 2005
	The company involved were IMTEC Holding plc. Under the contract with the company documents were to be scanned onto CD ROM and subsequently disposed of by shredding once this scanning was complete. This was the first time that the team concerned had used the company.
	The material was reviewed by the MOD prior to despatch to the company to remove any sensitive data. It is considered that the risk to national security to be very low as a consequence of the failure to destroy the documents as required.

Ship Disposal

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress on disposal of (a) HMS Grafton, (b) HMS Marlborough and (c) HMS Norfolk; and whether it is intended to sell each of the ships complete with their weapons systems.

Adam Ingram: Following discussions with a number of countries, the Ministry of Defence has agreed to sell these three Type 23 Frigates to the Government of Chile. A Letter of Intent is in place, supported by a deposit. Final negotiations are now being undertaken. The precise equipment fit of the ships at the point of transfer to Chile has yet to be finalised.

Surveys

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of the exit surveys for the (a) Naval Service and (b) Royal Air Force since 1997.

Don Touhig: The exit surveys in question are currently being studied to ensure that they do not contain information on individuals that it would be inappropriate to disclose. When this process is completed I will inform the hon. Member.

Trafalgar Review

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) hon. Members and (b) Members of the European Parliament were invited to Her Majesty the Queen's Trafalgar review.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 4 July 2005
	50 hon. Members (including Ministers) and three Members of the European Parliament were invited to attend Her Majesty the Queen's Trafalgar review on 28 June 2005.

Trafalgar Review

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many unelected guests were invited to Her Majesty the Queen's Trafalgar review; and at what cost to the public purse.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 4 July 2005
	The number of unelected guests invited to the review on 28 June 2005 was 383, which included royal family members and heads of navies. The cost to the public purse was 13,750.

Trident

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the cumulative costs have been of the Trident nuclear deterrent in each year since it became operational;
	(2)  what the running cost of the Trident nuclear deterrent was in 200405; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what proportion of Royal Navy spending was allocated to the Trident nuclear deterrent in 200405.

John Reid: The latest annual statement to Parliament about the acquisition cost of the Trident programme was made on 18 January 2005, Official Report, column 30WS.
	Since the Trident nuclear deterrent became operational in 1994, the annual expenditure for capital and running costs has ranged between 2 and 4 per cent. of the annual defence budget, up to and including financial year 200405.
	Specifically the running costs for financial year 200405 were 2 per cent. of the annual defence budget. Royal Navy spending allocated to the Trident nuclear deterrent amounted to 3 per cent. of the financial year 200405 Royal Navy spending plan.

SCOTLAND

Departmental Advertising

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much the Office spent on advertising in each of the last five years.

David Cairns: The Office spent the following on advertising:
	
		
			  Amount () 
		
		
			 200001 270,494 
			 200102 186,564 
			 200203 10,390 
			 200304 0 
			 200405 0 
		
	
	Most of the expenditure in 200001 and 200102 relates to electoral registration matters. Since 2001, this has been the responsibility of the Electoral Commission.

Departmental Staff

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many full-time equivalents have worked for the Department for each of the last five financial years for which figures are available.

David Cairns: Details of staff numbers from 19992000 to 200405 are set out in the Scotland Office Annual Reports for 2004 and 2005. The internet address for the reports is http://www.scotlandoffice.gov.uk/our-communications/

EU Structural Funds

David Mundell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive on the designation of the South of Scotland as NUTS2 for the purpose of post-2006 EU structural funding.

David Cairns: My right hon. Friend has regular discussions with Scottish Ministers on a wide range of matters. Eurostatwhich has overall responsibility for reviewing NUTS boundarieshas advised the Office for National Statistics (ONS) that they would follow the terms of the NUTS Regulation strictly before permitting any adjustment to NUTS boundaries. ONS has confirmed that the timetable for NUTS review will start in mid 2006 and terminate at the end of 2007 for implementation from 1 January 2008. Even if any changes were made to current boundaries, this could not take place in time to alter eligibility for any Structural and Cohesion Funds programmes for 200713.

G8 Summit

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ask his ministerial colleagues to make a financial contribution to the Scottish Executive to meet the costs likely to be incurred by public authorities in Edinburgh as a result of the events organised to coincide with the G8 Summit at Gleneagles.

Alistair Darling: As I indicated to my hon. Friend at questions on 5 July 2005, Official Report, column 152, the Government agreed to provide 20 million to the Scottish Executive towards the cost of policing the G8 Summit.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women have been proceeded against for procuring abortions under section 58 or 59 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 in each year since 1976.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested is contained in the table. Statistics on court proceedings for 2004 will be published in the autumn.
	
		Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guiltyat all courts under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, Secs. 58 and 59(14),England and Wales 1976 to 2003
		
			  Procuring illegal abortions 
			  Male Female Total 
			  Proceeded against Found guilty Proceeded against Found guilty Proceeded against Found guilty 
		
		
			 1976 3 3  1 3 4 
			 1977 4 1 1 1 5 2 
			 1978 1 2 2  3 2 
			 1979 11  
			 1980  1 3 3 3 4 
			 1981   
			 1982   
			 1983 1 1  2 1 3 
			 1984 3 2   3 2 
			 1985 22  
			 1986 1 2   1 2 
			 1987 22  
			 1988 4 2 2  6 2 
			 1989 5 1   5 1 
			 1990 1 2   1 2 
			 1991 2 2   2 2 
			 1992 1 1   1 1 
			 1993 22  
			 1994 3  3  6  
			 1995 22  
			 1996 2 1   2 1 
			 1997 3 4  1 3 5 
			 1998 3 2 1 1 4 3 
			 1999 11  
			 2000 11  
			 2001 11  
			 2002 33  
			 2003 3 1   3 1 
		
	
	(14) These data are on the principal offence basis.

Airwave

Doug Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding he allocated for extending Airwave into the Channel Tunnel.

Hazel Blears: Airwave is not being extended into the Channel Tunnel as other arrangements are in place.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued in the Milton Keynes area; and how many have been breached.

Hazel Blears: The Home Office has been able to determine from copies of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued since one June 2000 the local authority area in which restrictions were imposed. From this date up to 31 December 2004 (latest available) the number of ASBOs issued at all courts, as reported to the Home Office, where restrictions were imposed within the local government authority area of Milton Keynes borough council, is 20. Data on breaches of ASBOs are available at criminal justice system area level only, in this case Thames Valley, and relate to the total issued by the courts.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many antisocial behaviour orders have been made in respect of children who suffer from (a) Tourett's syndrome, (b) autism and (c) Asperger's syndrome;
	(2)  how many antisocial behaviour orders have been made in respect of people who were begging;
	(3)  how many antisocial behaviour orders have been made in respect of women who were loitering or soliciting;
	(4)  how many antisocial behaviour orders have been made since 1999.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 22 June 2005
	Information is not collected centrally about the characteristics of persons issued with an antisocial behaviour order (ASBO).
	Data collated by the Home Office for statistical purposes do not identify the circumstances that led to the issuing of an ASBO.
	The number of ASBOs issued at all courts, as reported to the Home Office, from 1 April 1999 to 31 December 2004 (latest available) is 4,649.
	However, it is for the courts to decide on whether to make an order in each individual case.

Assault Prosecutions

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the prosecution rate for (a) alleged common assaults and (b) alleged assaults with aggravating factors was in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 14 June 2005
	Data on the number of prosecutions in 2003 for (a) alleged common assaults and (b) alleged assaults with aggravating factors are provided in the following table.
	Statistics on court proceedings for 2004 will be published in the autumn.
	
		Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for various assault offences, England and Wales 2003(15)
		
			 Offence Statute Proceeded against 
		
		
			 Common assault and battery Criminal Justice Act 1988 s.39 57,528 
			
			 Religiously aggravated common assault Crime and Disorder Act 1998 s.29(1)(c)and(3) 4 
			
			 Racially aggravated common assault Crime and Disorder Act 1998 s.29(1)(c)and(3) 750 
			
			 Racially or religiously aggravated common assault Crime and Disorder Act 1998 s.29(1)(c)and(3) 62 
			
			 Racially aggravated actual bodily harm Offences against the Person Act 1861 s.47 (in part) as amended by Crime and Disorder Act 1998 s.29 (1) (b) and (2) 482 
			
			 Religiously aggravated actual bodily harm Offences against the Person Act 1861 s.47 (in part) as amended by Crime and Disorder Act 1998 s.29 (1) (b) and (2) 22 
			
			 Racially or religiously aggravated actual bodily harm Offences against the Person Act 1861 s.47 (in part) as amended by Crime and Disorder Act 1998 s.29 (1) (b) and (2) 40 
			
			 Racially aggravated malicious wounding or GBH Offences Against the Person Act 1861 s.20 as amended by Crime and Disorder Act s.29 (1) (a) and (2) 62 
			
			 Religiously aggravated wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm (inflicting bodily injury with or without weapon) Offences Against the Person Act 1861 s.20 as amended by Crime and Disorder Act s.29 (1) (a) and (2) 1 
			
			 Racially or religiously aggravated malicious wounding or GBH Offences Against the Person Act 1861 s.20 as amended by Crime and Disorder Act s.29 (1) (a) and (2) 20 
			 Total  58,971 
		
	
	(15) These data are on a principal offence basis

Drug Rehabilitation

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of (a) drug treatment testing orders and (b) drug rehabilitation requirements in (i) England and Wales and (ii) Hertfordshire were effected by non-governmental bodies in the last year for which figures are available.

Fiona Mactaggart: This information is not available centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost. The treatment and testing components of drug treatment and testing orders (DTTOs) and drug rehabilitation requirements (DRRs) in England are commissioned by local Drug Action Teams (DATs). Probation areas are responsible for the supervision and enforcement of DTTOs/DRRs and the delivery of some interventions. Welsh probation areas are funded to meet full DTTO/DRR costs.

Drug Rehabilitation

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department allocated for the implementation of (a) drug treatment testing orders and (b) drug rehabilitation requirements in the last year for which figures are available.

Fiona Mactaggart: 76 million was made available in 200405 to deliver 13,000 drug treatment and testing orders (DTTOs). 88 million has been allocated in 200506 for the delivery of 16,000 DTTOs/drug rehabilitation requirements (DRRs) of the new community order, which will gradually replace DTTOs from April 2005.

Drug Rehabilitation

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was allocated per capita for offenders referred to a non-governmental voluntary body for the provision of (a) drug treatment testing orders and (b) drug rehabilitation requirements; what estimate he has made of the cost per capita for such offenders in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: A proportion of Drug Treatment Testing Orders (DTTO)/Drug Rehabilitation Requirement (DRR) funding is not specifically allocated to cover the costs of offenders referred to non-governmental voluntary bodies. Funding for DTTO/DRR treatment and testing in England is allocated via the Pooled Treatment Budget to local Drug Action Teams (DATs) who decide what treatment and testing to commission in their locality and from what sources. Different arrangements exist in Wales where areas have responsibility for commissioning DTTO/DRR treatment and testing provision locally from their probation funding allocations. Information about the cost per capita of offenders on DTTOs/DRRs referred to non-governmental voluntary bodies is not available centrally and could be collected only at a disproportionate cost.

Early Release Scheme

Christopher Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will abolish the Early Release Scheme.

Fiona Mactaggart: There are three early release schemes: the Home Detention Curfew Scheme, the Early Removal Scheme for foreign national prisoners subject to deportation and parole for prisoners serving a determinate sentence of four years and over. There are no plans to abolish the Home Detention Curfew Scheme or the Early Removal Scheme. Under the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, offenders are sentenced according to the risk they present to the public. Sexual and violent offenders who present a significant risk will receive an extended sentence, under which the entire custodial period set by the court may be spent in prison if the Parole Board believes it is necessary: or an inter-determinate sentence, under which the offender must spend a minimum period of time in prison, and can be kept in prison indefinitely if the Parole Board believes it is necessary. Other offenders, who do not present this risk, are released on licence halfway through the sentence. Offenders must now remain on licence until the end of sentence, under reforms brought in under the Act.

House Building (East Midlands)

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when future projections of house building numbers in Northamptonshire contained in the Milton Keynes and South Midlands Sub-Regional Spatial Strategy will be taken into account in the formula grant funding calculation for the county's police force.

Hazel Blears: House building numbers are not used in the police funding formula. Estimates of population are used and are updated annually. The police funding formula will reflect changes in resident population in each police authority. The Government recently consulted on the use of population projections in three-year settlements; the Government's proposals following this consultation will be announced shortly.

Juvenile Offenders

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many secure unit places for juvenile offenders there are in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Youth Justice Board is responsible for commissioning and purchasing places in the juvenile secure estate. It currently contracts with local authorities for the use for 235 places in secure children's homes in England and Wales.

Limitation Acts

Stephen Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to amend the provisions of the Limitation Acts to permit claims from those who have suffered from historic physical and sexual abuse.

Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
	Under the current law the provisions governing claims for trespass against the person mean that a claim for child abuse must be brought within six years of the date on which the cause of action arose, although this period will not start to run until the child reaches the age of majority. Under the proposals in the Law Commission's 2001 report Limitation of Actions, a claim in relation to child abuse would have to be brought within a period of three years from the date on which a claimant knew (or ought reasonably to have known) the facts giving rise to the cause of action, the identity of the defendant, and that any injury, loss or damage was significant. The court would have a discretion to disapply this limitation period if it considered that it would be unjust not to allow the claim to proceed. In July 2002, the Government announced their acceptance in principle of the Law Commission's recommendations subject to further consideration of certain aspects. Legislation will be introduced to implement those recommendations which are accepted when an opportunity arises.

Mother and Baby Units (Prisons)

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many places have been available in mother and baby units in prisons in England and Wales in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many pregnant female offenders have applied for their children to remain with them in prison after birth in each year since 1997;
	(3)  how many babies have been born to women inprison for non-violent offences in each year since 1997;
	(4)  how many babies have been born to women in prison in each year since 1997; and how many remained with their mothers in prison in each year.

Fiona Mactaggart: The number of places available in prison mother and baby units in England and Wales in each year since 1997 is as follows:
	199768
	199868
	199968
	200068
	200168
	200268
	200368
	2004102
	200584
	The remainder of the data requested is currently neither routinely, or centrally available. However, the numbers of babies born to women in prison and applications for a place on a mother and baby unit is being collated nationally from 1 April 2005, on a quarterly retrospective basis. Data obtained in 2005 shows that, in 2004, 114 women gave birth while serving a prison sentence. All pregnant prisoners who give birth to a baby whilst serving a prison sentence do so in a local hospital.

Murder Rate

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were (a) charged with and (b) convicted of (i) murder and (ii) manslaughter in England and Wales in each year since 1975.

Fiona Mactaggart: Statistics on persons charged are not centrally collected.
	The available information from the Home Office Court Proceedings database is contained in the table. Statistics on court proceedings for 2004 will be published in the autumn.
	
		Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for certain offences under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861(16), England and Wales 1975 to 2003
		
			  Murder Manslaughter(17)(5508030018) 
			  Total proceeded against Total found guilty Total proceeded against Total found guilty 
		
		
			 1975 406 107 677 758 
			 1976 470 104 634 779 
			 1977 333 115 599 679 
			 1978 419 105 331 524 
			 1979 473 137 265 471 
			 1980 472 169 319 485 
			 1981 442 126 297 449 
			 1982 410 184 302 495 
			 1983 412 132 254 447 
			 1984 434 156 277 410 
			 1985 483 173 283 484 
			 1986 515 179 268 449 
			 1987 496 166 290 501 
			 1988 550 231 393 555 
			 1989 506 189 421 637 
			 1990 484 180 435 520 
			 1991 584 201 397 565 
			 1992 609 182 354 579 
			 1993 598 211 379 503 
			 1994 526 192 317 496 
			 1995 591 214 349 514 
			 1996 629 257 381 529 
			 1997 529 275 433 541 
			 1998 622 256 400 549 
			 1999 625 252 422 484 
			 2000 617 261 451 505 
			 2001 807 285 448 565 
			 2002 713 324 425 619 
			 2003 719 277 437 561 
		
	
	(16) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(17) Covers: manslaughter, infanticide, child destruction, causing death by dangerous driving, diminished responsibility and causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs.
	(18) Found guilty figures may include those prosecutions for murder that were reduced to manslaughter.

Overseas Prisoners

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what records are kept in relation to the presence in UK territory, airspace or airports, for transit or for longer temporary periods, of prisoners detained by states other than the UK.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, the Commonwealth Scheme for the Transfer of Convicted Offenders, and bilateral prisoner transfer agreements to which the UK is a party, enables a contracting party to transit through UK airports to another contracting party, or to a third party, where transfer has been agreed in accordance with the relevant international agreement.
	One or two requests for transit are received each year. Transit enables a prisoner and escort to transfer from one commercial flight to another at Heathrow or Gatwick airport. The prisoner and foreign escort remain in UK territory for a matter of hours and overnight transit is not allowed. Records of transit applications are not kept once the transit has been completed.

Parenting Skills

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of the value of teaching parenting skills to parents in combating juvenile antisocial behaviour and crime; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 13 June 2005
	Parenting is strongly relevant to juvenile antisocial and criminal behaviour and can be associated with increased risk or it can be a factor which protects children and young people from being involved in such behaviour. There is evidence, however, particularly from the United States, that parenting interventions which include the improvement of parenting skills can be effective in reducing antisocial and criminal behaviour. An independent evaluation of the Youth Justice Board's parenting programme published in 2002 found that most parents valued the parenting programmes they had undertaken and wished they had received such support earlier. The study observed a reduction in offending but the lack of a comparison group meant that this could not be attributed to parenting programmes.
	Youth Offending Teams have adapted programmes underpinned by evidence of effectiveness and some have developed their own programmes based on such evidence. Since 2002 the Youth Justice Board has introduced an effective practice quality assurance review process as part of a management system to improve the quality and volume of parenting interventions being delivered by Youth Offending Teams.

Police

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are held in each prison in Lancashire; and how many prison officers are employed in each prison.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested is provided in the following table . The figures for the population of each establishment are as recorded on the Prison Service IT system on 31 May 2005. Figures for the number of prison officers at each establishment are for 30 June 2005, and include both full and part-time officers.
	
		Population and number of officers in prison establishments in Lancashire
		
			 Establishment Population Number of prison officers 
		
		
			 Garth 640 225 
			 Kirkham 530 98 
			 Lancaster 239 86 
			 Lancaster Farms 514 242 
			 Preston 604 233 
			 Wymott 1,042 253

Police

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce the basis of the calculation for the new police authority funding formula due in 200607.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 12 July 2005
	We expect a 12 week consultation period on options for formula change to begin in late July with the aim of introducing a revised formula for the 200607 funding settlement.

Police

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Independent Police Complaints Commission's target is for (a) examination of and (b) reporting on a complaint against the police from the date of registration of the complaint; and what the average time taken has been since the IPCC was set up.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 11 July 2005
	The Independent Police Complaints Commission is responsible for the management of the police complaints system. I will ensure that the chairman receives a copy of the question and replies to the hon. Member directly. Copies of the letter containing the IPCC's response will be placed in the Library.

Prisoners

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2005, Official Report, column 491W, on prison education, how many offenders were in custody in each year between 200203 and 200405.

Fiona Mactaggart: The population of prison establishments in England and Wales on 30 June in each year in question, as recorded on the Prison Service IT system, is provided in the table. The figures include remand prisoners.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2002 71,218 
			 2003 73,657 
			 2004 74,488 
		
	
	Information on Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for my colleagues in the Scottish Executive and Northern Ireland Office.

Prisoners

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are held in (a) Garth and (b) Wymott prisons; and how many prison officers there are in each per prisoner.

Fiona Mactaggart: The population of HMP Garth was 640 and the population of HMP Wymott 1,042 on 31 May 2005, as recorded on the Prison Service IT system.
	There are 225 prison officers working at HMP Garth, resulting in a ratio of 0.35 officers per prisoner. There are 252 prison officers working at HMP Wymott, with a ratio of 0.24 officers per prisoner. These figures include both full and part-time officers, and are for 31 May 2005.

Prisoners

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many assaults on staff there were at Rye Hill Prison during 200405;
	(2)  how many assaults on prisoners there were at Rye Hill Prison during 200405.

Fiona Mactaggart: At HMP Rye Hill during the financial year 200405 there were 33 assaults upon staff and 12 assaults upon prisoners that were proven at adjudication hearings.

Prisoners

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases there were of prisoners (a) absconding and (b) escaping at Rye Hill Prison during 200405.

Fiona Mactaggart: During the financial year 200405 one prisoner escaped from a hospital escort being undertaken by staff from HMP Rye Hill. There were no absconds during this period.

Prisoners

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases there were of doors unlocked at Rye Hill Prison during 200405.

Fiona Mactaggart: Internal incident reports compiled at Rye Hill show that during 200405 a total of eight security gates or doors, including one cell door, were reported as being found unlocked.

Prisoners

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the proportion of prisoners who have spent time in care.

Fiona Mactaggart: Information from the 2001 Criminality Survey notes that 27 per cent. of prisoners had spent time in care as a child. This is closely in line with the equivalent figure of 26 per cent. as found by the 1991 National Prison Survey.

Prisoners

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the prison population has spent time in the care of a local authority.

Fiona Mactaggart: Information from the 2001 Criminality Survey notes that 27 per cent. of prisoners had spent time in care as a child. This is closely in line with the equivalent figure of 26 per cent. as found by the 1991 National Prison Survey.

Prisoners

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of (a) male and (b) female prisoners he estimates have (i) alcohol and (ii) drug abuse problems.

Fiona Mactaggart: This information is not collected centrally.
	Epidemiological studies show that:
	(a) 63 per cent. of sentenced males (39 per cent. females) report hazardous drinking in the year prior to prison; and
	(b) on average, 55 per cent. of prisoners report a serious drug problem (51 per cent. of male remand prisoners and 54 per cent. of female remands admitted drug dependencyONS 1997).

Prisoners

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase opportunities for prisoners to play team sport; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: The importance of physical education in prisons is well recognised. All prisons are required to deliver PE that meets the need of the regime, supports the delivery of education and vocational training, contributes to the resettlement of prisoners and delivers programmes that have been specifically developed to support offending behaviour interventions. The percentage, balance and contents that each PE programme contains will depend upon national and local needs. In 200405 some 7.9 million hours of PE were delivered within prisons in the public sector. The total number of hours achieved in contracted establishments is not centrally held, although all prisoners in contracted prisons are offered the opportunity to undertake PE on a frequent basis.
	The importance of team games is well recognised and each prisons PE programme should include a range of team sports that are delivered in line with the respective sports governing body guidelines. A wide range of governing body coaching and performance awards are delivered across the prison estate to encourage participation in team sports. In addition each prison should have a nominated Community Sport Liaison Officer. Part of their role is to encourage participation, where this is appropriate, in local sports leagues.

Prisoners

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were recalled for failing to adhere to home detention curfew conditions during the first five months of 2005 in each prison region.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested, as recorded on the Prison Service IT system, is provided in the table. The figures refer to the region in which the establishment is located from which the prisoner was discharged, and relate to all prisoners subject to the Home Detention Curfew Scheme who had their licences revoked in the period in question.
	
		HOC recalls by prison region1England and Wales, 2005
		
			  January February March April May Total 
		
		
			 All establishments 193 160 239 229 228 1,049 
			 East Midlands (North) 18 5 19 8 10 60 
			 East Midlands (South) 12 11 24 19 19 85 
			 Eastern 7 11 14 13 24 69 
			 Kent 11 6 13 15 17 62 
			 London 8 9 12 18 8 55 
			 North-east 5 6 9 7 6 33 
			 North-west 29 22 31 25 27 134 
			 South-west 17 20 21 15 14 87 
			 Surrey and Sussex 9 4 7 5 9 34 
			 Thames Valley, IOW, Hampshire 13 12 11 11 8 55 
			 Wales 8 3 4 8 7 30 
			 West Midlands 17 15 26 26 26 110 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 17 22 27 39 34 139 
			 High Security Estate 7 4 9 8 4 32 
			 Contracted out 14 9 11 11 14 59 
			 Others 1 1 1 1 1 5 
		
	
	(19) based on information recorded on the Prison Service IT system at week ending 25 June 2005. Further updates and amendments may be made to records on this system in future, resulting in revised figures.

Probation Service

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff (a) joined and (b) left the Probation Service in England and Wales during (i) 200304 and (ii) 200405, broken down by grade.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested is provided in the table.
	
		Number of Joiners(20) and Leavers in the National Probation Service for England and Wales in 200304 and 200405
		
			  Persons joining the National Probation Service Persons leaving the National Probation Service 
			  200304 200405 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Deputy Chief Officers 3.0 0.0 6.0 3.0 
			 Assistant Chief Officers(21) 20.7 6.8 36.9 18.5 
			 Senior Probation Officers 8.9 12.1 75.0 68.2 
			 Probation Officers(22) 984.7 577.8 484.4 417.1 
			 Probation Service Officers 945.8 857.0 504.2 531.5 
			 All Other Staff 1,147.1 896.2 751.1 724.7 
			 Total 3,110.2 2,349.7 1,861.6 1,763.0 
		
	
	(20) Figures shown in FTE.
	(21) Includes Area Managers.
	(22) Includes Senior Practitioners and Trainee Probation Officers.

Probation Service

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vacancies there were in each probation area on 31 March of each year between 2001 and 2005, broken down by grade.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested was not collected by the Probation Service until the implementation of the quarterly workforce information report during the financial year 200304 and therefore, we are unable to respond to the request for the years 2001 to 2003.
	The information for 2004 and 2005 is given in the table.
	
		The number of vacancies(23)(5508030024) in the National Probation Service of England and Wales 2004 and 2005.
		
			  31 March 2004 
			  Senior probation staff Probation officers Probation Service officers Trainee probation officers All other staff 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 1.0 16.3 31.8 3.0 40.8 
			 Bedfordshire 2.0 3.4 4.0 0.0 1.5 
			 Cambridgeshire 0.5 3.0 1.0 0.0 2.1 
			 Cheshire 0.0 4.5 0.0 0.0 5.0 
			 Cumbria 1.0 3.6 5.4 0.0 4.5 
			 Derbyshire 0.0 4.5 2.6 0.0 1.6 
			 Devon and Cornwall 2.5 7.8 13.6 1.0 13.5 
			 Dorset 0.6 7.4 8.1 1.0 2.3 
			 Durham 1.0 0.0 0.5 5.0 2.1 
			 Essex 0.7 5.8 14.9 2.0 5.6 
			 Gloucestershire 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			 Hampshire 1.0 14.3 17.4 0.0 3.0 
			 Hertfordshire 1.2 5.9 3.4 2.0 1.8 
			 Humberside 0.0 0.4 4.3 0.0 7.8 
			 Kent 3.2 0.9 30.9 9.0 30.3 
			 Lancashire 0.0 6.3 0.0 0.0 8.0 
			 Leicestershire and Rutland 0.7 4.5 12.6 0.0 4.7 
			 Lincolnshire 0.2 5.0 3.4 1.0 10.8 
			 London(25) 19.0 27.0 0.0 0.0 39.0 
			 Greater Manchester(25) 9.0 31.0 17.0 0.0 113.7 
			 Merseyside 1.0 0.1 7.0 0.0 21.8 
			 Norfolk 0.2 3.4 5.8 0.0 3.3 
			 Northamptonshire 1.0 5.0 6.0 0.0 7.3 
			 Northumbria 0.0 4.2 1.0 0.0 8.0 
			 Nottinghamshire 0.0 0.0 4.6 0.0 9.1 
			 Staffordshire 1.0 6.4 4.5 0.0 3.2 
			 Suffolk 0.0 0.5 3.2 0.0 1.6 
			 Surrey 2.9 0.0 0.0 2.0 2.1 
			 Sussex 1.9 9.2 9.9 6.0 3.5 
			 Teesside 2.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 10.1 
			 Thames Valley 0.5 11.6 0.0 0.0 1.8 
			 Warwickshire 1.9 2.0 2.7 0.0 1.6 
			 West Mercia 3.4 5.0 6.9 0.0 5.7 
			 West Midlands 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			 Wiltshire 1.0 1.5 3.6 0.0 8.5 
			 North Yorkshire 1.0 6.5 0.0 0.0 6.3 
			 South Yorkshire 0.0 4.4 9.8 1.0 5.5 
			 West Yorkshire 10.1 22.0 29.3 0.0 17.1 
			 Dyfed-Powys 2.0 1.4 4.2 0.0 0.0 
			 Gwent 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			 North Wales 1.6 3.2 0.0 0.0 2.9 
			 South Wales 4.6 7.1 9.2 0.0 7.1 
			 Total 75.9 229.9 250.9 29.0 424.7 
		
	
	
		
			  31 March 2005 
			  Senior probation staff Probation officers Probation Service officers Trainee probation officers All other staff 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 4.0 23.0 24.0 0.0 16.7 
			 Bedfordshire 0.5 1.6 1.0 0.0 12.1 
			 Cambridgeshire 1.6 6.9 9.6 0.0 0.2 
			 Cheshire 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.6 
			 Cumbria 1.0 1.2 3.0 0.0 1.3 
			 Derbyshire 0.2 4.5 1.5 0.0 3.0 
			 Devon and Cornwall 0.6 4.0 2.1 0.0 8.6 
			 Dorset 0.0 0.0 5.9 0.0 3.4 
			 Durham 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 2.0 
			 Essex 0.5 0.0 1.8 0.0 4.5 
			 Gloucestershire 0.0 3.0 1.0 1.0 2.9 
			 Hampshire 0.0 0.0 7.0 0.0 7.5 
			 Hertfordshire 2.0 4.6 7.5 2.0 0.0 
			 Humberside 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			 Kent 3.0 5.5 3.0 0.0 13.6 
			 Lancashire 0.0 0.0 11.6 0.0 11.0 
			 Leicestershire and Rutland 1.0 7.6 6.7 1.0 4.5 
			 Lincolnshire 0.0 0.0 1.5 0.0 2.5 
			 London(25)  
			 Greater Manchester(25)  
			 Merseyside 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			 Norfolk 0.0 6.0 2.0 0.0 5.3 
			 Northamptonshire 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.0 
			 Northumbria 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			 Nottinghamshire 0.0 0.0 9.7 0.0 3.1 
			 Staffordshire 0.0 4.0 6.0 0.0 10.4 
			 Suffolk 3.0 2.6 1.9 1.0 2.5 
			 Surrey 2.5 3.0 7.0 0.0 6.0 
			 Sussex 2.1 10.0 5.4 0.0 2.5 
			 Teesside 1.0 0.0 2.6 0.0 6.2 
			 Thames Valley 3.5 21.2 11.5 0.0 16.2 
			 Warwickshire 1.2 0.0 1.8 0.0 1.5 
			 West Mercia 1.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 8.5 
			 West Midlands 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			 Wiltshire 2.0 4.0 1.6 0.0 3.0 
			 North Yorkshire 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			 South Yorkshire 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			 West Yorkshire 3.7 13.0 20.0 1.0 14.5 
			 Dyfed-Powys 3.5 1.4 0.4 0.0 1.0 
			 Gwent 1.0 2.0 8.4 0.0 0.5 
			 North Wales 0.0 0.4 3.5 0.0 1.3 
			 South Wales 0.0 0.0 12.0 0.0 11.5 
			 Total 40.9 129.7 182.0 6.0 198.3 
		
	
	(23) Figures shown in wte
	(24) At the end of 2004, the NPS changed the way in which it collected vacancy data, consequently, the information for March 2004 shows the vacancies within a notional complement of staff and those for March 2005 show vacancies as being posts that Areas are actively recruiting into.
	(25) The information for March 2005 is not currently available for these probation areas.

Probation Service

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the staffing establishment for each probation area was on 31 March of each year between 2001 and 2005, broken down by grade.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested was not collected by the Probation Service until the implementation of the quarterly workforce information report during the financial year 200304 and therefore, we are unable to respond to the request for the years 2001 to 2003.
	The information for 2004 and 2005 is given in the tables.
	
		Staffing establishment1, 2 for the National Probation Service for England and Wales
		
			  31 March 2004 
			  Senior probation staff Probation officers Probation service officers Trainee probation officers All other staff 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 7.0 103.4 220.6 26.0 134.1 
			 Bedfordshire 18.0 44.6 39.8 0.0 72.7 
			 Cambridgeshire 24.6 51.4 65.7 19.0 60.1 
			 Cheshire 27.6 86.7 0.0 33.0 114.8 
			 Cumbria 17.0 39.3 38.3 17.0 49.8 
			 Derbyshire 23.3 79.4 108.2 30.0 92.4 
			 Devon and Cornwall 31.4 114.9 139.9 33.0 129.4 
			 Dorset 11.9 51.2 59.5 16.0 59.3 
			 Durham 19.0 0.0 96.1 23.0 58.4 
			 Essex 42.9 74.6 168.5 43.0 70.1 
			 Gloucestershire 18.2 37.2 39.3 14.0 59.9 
			 Hampshire 38.7 139.9 125.4 50.0 167.1 
			 Hertfordshire 23.0 49.0 52.3 25.0 66.0 
			 Humberside 28.0 110.8 115.8 37.0 141.1 
			 Kent 51.2 103.8 149.4 39.0 110.7 
			 Lancashire 0.0 190.1 0.0 59.0 139.9 
			 Leicestershire and Rutland 33.3 97.4 144.8 39.0 92.1 
			 Lincolnshire 19.6 41.0 81.3 19.0 68.1 
			 London 197.0 665.5 0.0 244.0 727.0 
			 Greater Manchester 72.7 314.9 298.1 114.0 461.2 
			 Merseyside 33.0 205.4 199.1 78.0 219.2 
			 Norfolk 24.1 60.1 79.2 22.0 57.0 
			 Northamptonshire 15.0 48.0 68.0 21.0 79.5 
			 Northumbria 0.0 213.6 168.1 70.0 175.5 
			 Nottinghamshire 0.0 0.0 118.0 44.0 148.8 
			 Staffordshire 25.4 120.8 80.6 36.0 133.4 
			 Suffolk 26.7 58.5 61.6 15.0 44.3 
			 Surrey 21.1 0.0 0.0 17.0 66.1 
			 Sussex 40.8 85.8 99.7 30.0 84.4 
			 Teesside 20.3 0.0 0.0 32.0 78.1 
			 Thames Valley 37.0 145.0 0.0 41.0 182.7 
			 Warwickshire 16.7 36.6 28.7 16.0 61.9 
			 West Mercia 43.9 82.0 93.8 41.0 99.6 
			 West Midlands 60.5 346.3 215.1 134.0 454.8 
			 Wiltshire 21.5 28.6 39.0 16.0 31.6 
			 North Yorkshire 30.6 45.0 40.3 32.0 83.3 
			 South Yorkshire 0.0 166.5 186.7 63.0 180.1 
			 West Yorkshire 89.7 224.2 307.0 98.2 292.7 
			 Dyfed-Powys 13.5 30.2 36.2 15.0 42.3 
			 Gwent 15.1 54.1 68.8 23.0 75.5 
			 North Wales 18.4 49.1 0.0 24.0 52.8 
			 South Wales 37.0 135.3 138.1 53.0 155.5 
			 Total 1,457.6 4,827.8 5,416.8 1,820.2 5,673.1 
		
	
	
		
			  31 March 2005 
			  Senior probation staff Probation officers Probation service officers Trainee probation officers All other staff 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 37.4 115.9 185.2 38.0 133.4 
			 Bedfordshire 23.0 43.0 32.2 17.0 77.9 
			 Cambridgeshire 25.4 50.9 66.4 19.0 60.8 
			 Cheshire 28.3 86.4 90.0 30.0 121.0 
			 Cumbria 17.0 41.0 45.1 18.0 54.3 
			 Derbyshire 20.3 87.2 111.9 33.0 103.7 
			 Devon and Cornwall 33.7 116.6 140.2 40.0 130.1 
			 Dorset 15.1 55.2 62.1 18.0 66.3 
			 Durham 24.7 71.1 117.3 24.0 65.1 
			 Essex 46.1 74.1 189.9 43.0 96.1 
			 Gloucestershire 22.8 36.4 41.7 11.0 62.1 
			 Hampshire 42.6 146.3 121.1 51.0 171.4 
			 Hertfordshire 22.0 53.1 61.9 18.0 62.2 
			 Humberside 27.8 119.9 141.2 35.0 116.3 
			 Kent 45.6 99.9 160.8 44.0 115.9 
			 Lancashire 58.0 192.4 142.7 55.0 144.9 
			 Leicestershire and Rutland 35.0 99.7 175.4 33.0 98.0 
			 Lincolnshire 19.8 44.6 74.0 18.0 74.3 
			 London (28) (28) (28) (28) (28) 
			 Greater Manchester 70.6 335.7 331.1 114.0 474.9 
			 Merseyside 35.0 232.2 213.1 71.0 212.5 
			 Norfolk 24.7 57.9 83.3 26.0 66.4 
			 Northamptonshire 18.0 54.5 63.4 19.0 65.7 
			 Northumbria 38.6 225.2 170.1 60.0 182.7 
			 Nottinghamshire 30.0 135.9 167.9 42.0 140.7 
			 Staffordshire 25.8 126.9 91.0 35.0 143.6 
			 Suffolk 25.8 57.7 70.7 19.0 36.3 
			 Surrey 21.5 45.2 106.9 14.0 65.1 
			 Sussex 33.9 94.9 125.0 36.0 81.5 
			 Teesside 24.4 62.8 125.5 30.0 73.9 
			 Thames Valley 38.0 137.8 215.7 48.0 181.4 
			 Warwickshire 16.4 36.5 35.2 16.0 65.0 
			 West Mercia 46.4 91.7 101.0 33.0 103.9 
			 West Midlands 69.1 377.2 327.4 117.0 395.6 
			 Wiltshire 15.8 27.5 41.1 16.0 46.2 
			 North Yorkshire 39.6 54.0 60.1 21.0 65.4 
			 South Yorkshire 41.4 166.7 207.4 53.0 187.6 
			 West Yorkshire 110.2 221.7 302.4 88.6 305.5 
			 Dyfed-Powys 16.0 30.7 39.9 15.0 46.2 
			 Gwent 14.7 50.6 65.1 33.0 62.7 
			 North Wales 23.6 59.6 80.2 21.0 57.3 
			 South Wales 45.9 145.6 160.3 47.0 170.0 
			 Total 1,558.3 5,009.2 5,816.9 1,766.6 5,625.4 
		
	
	(26) Figures shown in wte.
	(27) Staffing establishment has been interpreted as 'Staff in Post' as opposed to the funded staffing establishment.
	(28) The information for March 2005 is not currently available for this Probation Area.

Probation Service

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many service level agreements there are (a) in each probation region and (b) for each regional offender manager for the current financial year.

Fiona Mactaggart: At present there are a total of 11 draft Service Level Agreements between Probation Boards and Regional Offender Managers. These are in two regions, the North West region has five Draft Service Level Agreements and the East region has six Draft Service Level Agreements. Work is currently being undertaken to have Service Level Agreements in place in all regions of England and Wales for the financial year 200607.

Probation Service

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to redefine the role of probation boards.

Fiona Mactaggart: Work on the future organisational design of the National Offender Management Service has still to be concluded.

Probation Service

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been employed in the Probation Service in (a) Bedfordshire county and (b) Mid-Bedfordshire in each year since 1997.

Fiona Mactaggart: Information is not available for the full period requested. Data are not available prior to 1 April 2003. The figures presented in the table show full time equivalent (FTE) figures at the close of each quarter from 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2005. Staffing information is collected by probation area, and is not collected centrally in sufficient detail to allow figures for Bedfordshire county and Mid Bedfordshire to be presented separately. The staffing figures are provided for the Bedfordshire probation area only.
	
		Bedfordshire probation area
		
			  FTE in post 
		
		
			 30 June 2003 173.8 
			 30 September 2003 183.7 
			 31 December 2003 189.0 
			 31 March 2004 194.1 
			 30 June 2004 188.2 
			 30 September 2004 176.0 
			 31 December 2004 182.0 
			 31 March 2005 193.1

Probation Service

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans there are to ensure that magistrates in Crown courts are fully resourced in terms of experienced probation officers in (a) the 200506 financial year and (b) future financial years.

Fiona Mactaggart: The National Probation Service business plan for 200506 makes clear the priority to be attached to meeting the needs of the courts. The importance of delivering good quality court reports on time had already been made clear in two probation circulars issued in the second half of 200405 and it will remain a priority for the service in the coming years.
	The 200506 business plan requires probation chief officers to ensure that good liaison arrangements exist with sentencers and court staff so that any difficulties in relation to the provision of reports can be identified and tackled. At the end of March 2005 there were 818 National Probation Service staff allocated to court duties.

Ritual Sacrifice (Children)

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimates have been made of the numbers of children being trafficked into the UK for the purpose of ritual sacrifice.

Hazel Blears: Initial inquiries made by the team investigating the 'Adam' murder found that a number of African boys had not returned to school following the summer break in 2001.
	Educational welfare officers notified the Metropolitan police of 300 boys who had not returned to school following the summer recess. Of these, 161 boys were screened in for further inquiries.
	There has been considerable media speculation that these children were trafficked for the purpose of ritual abuse.
	The Metropolitan police have made it clear that they believe this type of crime to be extremely rare, and that there is no evidence to suggest that the same fate has befallen any other child.

Ritual Sacrifice (Children)

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to prevent the trafficking of children into the UK for the purpose of ritual sacrifice.

Hazel Blears: Initial inquiries made by the team investigating the 'Adam' murder found a number of African boys had not returned to school following the summer break in 2001.
	The Metropolitan Police Service has stated clearly that they have no evidence that any of these boys have come to any harm. They believe this type of crime to be extremely rare and there is no evidence whatsoever to suggest that the same fate has befallen any other child.

Self-harm

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that adequate counselling is in place for staff working in the Prison Service who deal with a fatality or a serious case of self-harm.

Fiona Mactaggart: The public sector Prison Service has in place an established package of measures to support staff in such circumstances. In particular, all staff have access to post trauma counselling if they have been involved in a traumatic incident on duty. This includes attending the scene of a serious self-harm or suicide. Staff can self-refer for counselling, or be referred by management. The process is handled by the public sector Prison Service occupational welfare service, who source a local, external counsellor who is accredited by the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy or equivalent professional body.

Sentencing Guidelines Council

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ask the Sentencing Guidelines Council to (a) create aggravating factors, (b) lengthen jail sentences and (c) increase fines for assaults against public sector workers; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 27 June 2005
	The Government made a commitment to ensuring tougher sentences for those involved in attacks on public sector workers. The Sentencing Guidelines Council, which was established by the Criminal Justice Act 2003, has a remit to issue sentencing guidelines for the range of criminal offences, which courts must take into account.
	The Council issued a guideline entitled 'SeriousnessOverarching Principles' on 16 December last year. It outlined a number of aggravating factors that would indicate a higher than usual level of culpability on the part of the offender (such as vulnerability of the victim), or a greater than usual degree of harm caused by the offence. One aggravating factor set out in the guideline is that
	the offence is committed against those working in the public sector or providing a service to the public.
	The Sentencing Advisory Panel is currently preparing a public consultation paper on sentencing for assaults and other offences against the person. It will consider the most common offences, aggravating or mitigating factors, and the degree to which such factors should impact on sentence. The Panel will report to the Council, which will, in due course, produce a guideline.

Victims of Crime

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provisions have been made to protect the victims of crime and their families from the individuals responsible for the crimes when they are released (a) temporarily, (b) conditionally and (c) permanently.

Fiona Mactaggart: Local probation boards have a statutory duty to work with victims of sexual or violent offences where the offender receives a custodial sentence of 12 months or more. Victims are provided with a single point of contact with the Probation Service, through Victim Liaison Officers (VLOs), from whom they can receive information and make representations about key stages in an offender's sentence, such as temporary leave and release on licence.
	When an offender is being considered for release on temporary licence, a prison governor will seek information from the supervising probation officer about appropriate licence conditions. The probation officer, having consulted the VLO, may recommend that there be conditions not to contact the victim or not to enter a specified area where the victim resides.
	Prior to the offender's conditional release, the supervising probation officer, having taken into account the victim's representations, may recommend that conditions be imposed forbidding contact with the victim, members of the victim's family or other named individuals, or may prevent the offender entering a specified geographical area.
	During the period of the licence, the VLO will maintain contact with victims and their families. If, after offenders have been released, victims have concerns about offenders breaching conditions not to contact them or entering an exclusion zone, they should inform the VLO. The VLO will, in turn, notify the offender's supervising officer of this breach and the offender may either be warned about his/her behaviour or recalled to custody.
	The Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA), introduced in April 2001, play an important role in assessing and managing the risk of harm an offender presents to a specific person, such as a victim of his/her previous offending. A VLO will liaise with the MAPPA Responsible Authority, which in turn has a duty of care to existing victims, and should take all reasonable steps to protect people from being re-victimised.
	Once statutory supervision of an offender ends, the conditions put in place to protect victims will no longer apply. Where, however, an offender is regarded as posing a risk of harm to an individual, such as a victim of a previous offence, MAPPA may recommend that the police continue to monitor that offender.
	The probation VLO should also provide victims with information about voluntary organisations, such as Victim Support, which may offer support once statutory supervision of the offender comes to an end.

Violent Crime Reduction Bill

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria were used in making the decision not to include measures to create aggravating factors for assaults against public sector workers in the Violent Crime Reduction Bill; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 21 June 2005
	The Government are committed to ensuring tougher sentences for those involved in attacks on public sector workers. But we are not convinced that further legislation is necessary to achieve this. The Sentencing Guidelines Council, which was established by the Criminal Justice Act 2003, has a remit to issue sentencing guidelines, which courts must take into account. Sentencing guidelines in respect of an offence or category of offences must include criteria for determining the seriousness of the offence or offences. The council issued a guideline on 'seriousness' at the end of last year; this included aggravating factors applicable to offences generally such as the vulnerability of the victim. One aggravating factor is that the offence is committed against those working in the public sector or providing a service to the public. The Sentencing Advisory Panel is currently preparing a public consultation paper on sentencing for assaults and other offences against the person. It will consider the most common offences, aggravating or mitigating factors, and the degree to which such factors should impact on sentence. The panel will report to the council, which will, in due course, produce a guideline.

Violent Crime Reduction Bill

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what restrictions on shooting sports are contained within the provisions of the Violent Crime Reduction Bill.

Hazel Blears: Part two of the Bill is aimed at tackling the misuse of firearms and imitation firearms and will not greatly affect legitimate shooting sports. Although the age for acquiring and possessing an air weapon will increase from 17 to 18, young people will still be able to use air weapons under adult supervision, at approved shooting clubs or, if they are 14 or over, on private premises with the owner's consent.

Young Offenders

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department at which young offender institutions prisoners are (a) taught and (b) able to play (i) football, (ii) cricket and (iii) rugby.

Fiona Mactaggart: A large number of establishments hold young offenders and juveniles. The sports activity each establishment is able to offer obviously varies because of the space and facilities available.
	A broad survey conducted as a result of the hon. Member's question indicates that at every establishment holding males under 21, football is available. Cricket and rugby are available at around 50 per cent. of these establishments. The rugby played is predominantly touch rugby. Sport is less readily available or in demand in the female estate. A number of female establishments make football available to prisoners, and there is a small amount of cricket and touch rugby played. All sport is supervised and a good deal is coached. Some establishments offer refereeing courses. Others have teams playing competitive matches in leagues. In 200405 some 7.9 million hours of physical education were delivered within prisons in the public sector. The total number of hours achieved in contracted establishments is not centrally held, although all prisoners in contracted prisons are offered the opportunity to undertake PE on a frequent basis.

Young Offenders

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the full range of special measures provided for in the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 to be available to use.

Fiona Mactaggart: The special measures contained in sections 23 to 30 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 have been rolled out in stages since July 2002. Details of the remaining partially implemented and unimplemented provisions are set out in the table together with the current plan for implementation.
	
		
			 Special measure Current implementation plan 
		
		
			 Live links (section 24) Since 24 July 2002 this measure has been available to all vulnerable or intimidated witnesses, which include children, in the Crown court and child witnesses in need of special protection in magistrates courts. Following the roll out of live link facilities in magistrates courts we plan to make this measure available to all vulnerable or intimidated witnesses in magistrates courts in the near future. An implementation date will be announced in due course. 
			 Video recorded evidence in chief (section 27) This measure has been available since 24 July 2002 in the Crown court for all vulnerable witnesses, which include children and in magistrates courts for children in need of special protection. Before extending the availability of this measure to intimidated witnesses we wish to assess the extra demands that this would place on the relevant criminal justice agencies. As part of this process we are evaluating a pilot that is testing an interview summary as an alternative to full verbatim transcripts of video-recorded interviews. The pilot's independent evaluation report is expected at the end of August and will inform the development of our implementation plans, which will include consultation with the criminal justice agencies. 
			 Video recorded cross-examination (section 28) It was announced on 21 July 2004 that this measure would be reviewed as part of a wider review of child evidence (21 July 2004, Official Report, column 40WS). The review group is due to report to Ministers later this month. 
			 Examination through an intermediary (section 29) This measure is currently available in six criminal justice areas in England and Wales (Merseyside, West Midlands, South Wales, Devon and Cornwall, Thames Valley and Norfolk). These pilots are being evaluated until March 2006 after which the timetable for national roll out will be developed.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Compensation

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps she (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to regulate the advertising of claim management companies.

Bridget Prentice: The Government are taking forward a wide-ranging programme of work to tackle perceptions of a compensation culture and to improve the compensation system for valid claims. A Ministerial Steering Group has been established to drive this forward, supported by an Action Group of expert stakeholders. The programme of work includes action to tackle irresponsible advertising that raises false hopes of compensation and encourages people to bring unnecessary claims.

Compensation

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what measures she intends to introduce to tackle the compensation culture.

Bridget Prentice: The Government are taking forward a wide-ranging programme of work to tackle perceptions of a compensation culture and to improve the compensation system for valid claims. A Ministerial Steering Group has been established to drive this forward, supported by an Action Group of expert stakeholders. The programme of work will include measures in the Compensation Bill to enable claims management companies to be effectively regulated and to clarify the existing common law on negligence to make clear that those who take reasonable care or exercise reasonable skill cannot be held liable for untoward incidents.

Defence Costs

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many orders to contribute to defence costs were made at the end of cases in (a) the Crown court and (b) magistrates courts in each of the last 10 years; and what percentage this represented of all cases heard in each year.

Bridget Prentice: The Legal Services Commission has collected data relating to Recovery of Defence Costs Orders (RDCOs) only since the Criminal Defence Service (Recovery of Defence Costs Orders) Regulations came into force on 2 April 2001. Under these regulations, an RDCO cannot be made in magistrates courts; therefore the data in the table only relates to Orders made in the Crown court or above. There is currently no system for either means testing or recovery of costs in the magistrates courts, although RDCOs made in the Crown court can cover costs incurred in magistrates courts. However, the Criminal Defence Service Bill now before Parliament is seeking to re-introduce means testing for representation before both the magistrates courts and Crown courts.
	
		
			  RDCOs Defendants Percentage(29) Total value () 
		
		
			 200102 244 115,000 0.2 194,147 
			 200203 401 124,000 0.3 763,757 
			 200304 615 124,000 0.5 2,120,275 
			 200405 442 116,000 0.4 1,082,182 
		
	
	(29) figures for RDCOs as total proportion of all defendants
	Between 1989 and 2001 applications for criminal legal aid were subject to a means test based on a system of contributions. Less than 1 per cent. of applications were refused legal aid on grounds of means and only 5 per cent. of defendants were ordered to make any contribution towards the cost of their legal aid. A more detailed statistical breakdown of these figures is not readily available and can be provided only at disproportionate cost to this Department.

Departmental Advertising

David Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much the Department spent on advertising in each of the last five years.

Bridget Prentice: Since it was set up in June 2003 my Department has conducted three media advertising campaigns:
	a regional poster campaign on buses to promote recruitment to the lay magistracy
	radio and press adverts to target court fine defaulters (under the title Operation Payback)
	press adverts to promote postal voting fraud prevention.
	The expenditure is itemised in the following table:
	
		
			  Project Expenditure on advertising () 
		
		
			 2003 Operation Payback (Phase 1) 230,000 
			  Magistrate recruitment 342,000 
			 2004 Operation Payback (Phase 2) 292,000 
			  Magistrate recruitment 102,000 
			
			 2005 Postal voting 185,270

Departmental Conferences

David Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much the Department and its predecessor spent on organising or sponsoring conferences in each of the last five years.

Bridget Prentice: The information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Identity Cards

Edward Garnier: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what estimate she has made of the cost of equipping premises for which her Department is compatible with identity card readers.

Bridget Prentice: We have been working with the Home Office to identify areas where the Identity cards Scheme could provide business benefits. On 28 June 2005, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary placed in the Library a paper containing the latest estimates of benefits of the Identity Cards Scheme which shows that the benefits outweigh the costs once the scheme is fully operational. The cost of equipping premises will depend on the nature of the use of the Identity Cards Scheme and the type of identity check(s) necessary to deliver the business benefits. In some cases, benefits could be realised without the use of card readers and the cost of installing any readers needs to be considered alongside future plans to refresh or upgrade IT systems. As the design of the scheme matures, during and after the procurement exercise, so will our understanding of where the scheme will be of most benefit which will allow us to further refine our estimates of costs and benefits.

Lay Magistrates (Northern Ireland)

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs in how many cases lay magistrates were involved in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Bridget Prentice: The new judicial office of lay magistrate in Northern Ireland was established on 1 April 2005. Case disposal statistics from 1 April 2005 are not currently available. However, during the period April 2004 to March 2005, 2,057 youth defendants were disposed of in the youth courts in Northern Ireland and 5,007 cases were disposed of in the family proceedings courts.

Legal Aid

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether she plans to extend the contracting system for legal aid to the Crown court.

Bridget Prentice: At present, the contracting system in the Crown court is limited to Very High Cost Criminal Casescases that are expected to last for 41 days or more. These cases are managed under contract by the Complex Crime Unit at the Legal Services Commission.
	The procurement of criminal defence services, including the management of high cost cases in the Crown court, will be covered by the independent review of Legal Aid Procurement by Lord Carter of Coles which was announced on 6 July. Lord Carter will produce a plan by early 2006 showing how to deliver modern procurement methods that contribute to a more proportionate way of spending legal aid, while ensuring reasonable client choice and sufficient quality.

Legal Aid

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much money was allocated to (a) criminal legal aid and (b) civil legal aid in England in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004; and if she will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: Funding for legal aid is not allocated separately to England. The Legal Services Commission provides funding to England and Wales. However, spending in England and Wales on the Criminal Defence Service (CDS) and the Community Legal Service (CLS) during 200304 and 200405 was as follows:
	
		 million
		
			  CLS CDS 
		
		
			 200405 845 1,192 
			 200304 898 1,179

Legal Aid

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much money was allocated to spending on legal aid in England in (a) 2003, (b) 2004 and (c) 2005; and if she will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: Legal aid is not separately allocated to England. Spending on legal aid in England forms part of overall spending in England and Wales. Spending in England and Wales for each of the last full financial years for which figures are available are as follows:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 200405(30) 2,038 
			 200304 2,076 
			 200203 1,909 
		
	
	(30) Figures for 200405 are estimates and subject to audit.

Legal Aid

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans the Department has to reform legal aid spending in England and Wales following the recent review of the legal aid process; and if she will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: I refer the hon. Member to my written statement of 5 July 2005, Official Report, column 4WS, announcing the publication of A Fairer Deal for Legal Aid, which sets out the Government's plan for legal aid reform in England and Wales.

Legal Claims

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps she has taken to review the use of insurance in relation to legal claims.

Bridget Prentice: As part of its programme of work to tackle perceptions of a compensation culture and to improve the compensation system for valid claims, the Government are working with the insurance industry and other stakeholders to promote the availability of affordable liability insurance.

Small Claims Court

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps assessment she has made of the effects of raising the financial limit for the small claims track.

Bridget Prentice: The Better Regulation Task Force in its report, 'Better Routes to Redress' recommended that research should be carried out into the potential impact of raising the small claims limit for personal injury cases from the current limit of 1,000. The Government indicated that they would carry out this research and would also consider other options for dealing with these claims in a more proportionate and cost effective way. That research is currently under way and consultation will take place on any proposals which may emerge.

Statutory Instruments (Sponsorship)

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will list the statutory instruments sponsored by the Department and its predecessor since 1997.

Bridget Prentice: Lists of all statutory instruments (SIs) from 1 January 1998 to 30 June 2005, prepared by the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) have today been placed in the Library. These lists, prepared in alphabetical order by department, detail for each year from 1998 the number and title of each statutory instrument sponsored by the department. There are separate lists for General and Local SIs. SIs which have been originated by departments but which were also Orders in Council are only listed under the Privy Council Office (PCO).

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefits/Pensions (Payment Methods)

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer given on 20 June 2005, Official Report, column 707W, on benefits/pensions (payments methods), in what format information is available on the number of complaints that have been received regarding the introduction of direct payment for the payment of pensions and benefits.

James Plaskitt: No record is held on the number of complaints received specifically about the introduction of direct payment.
	Data collected by the Pension Service, Disability and Carer's Service and the Jobcentre Plus Chief Executive's Office shows that between April 2004 and March 2005 around 2,500 letters were classified as being wholly or mainly about direct payment issues. But these could have been about a number of issues related to direct payment, including straightforward requests for information. They were not necessarily complaints.
	In addition, Ministers received around 1,500 letters on the subject of direct payment over the same period. Again these letters could have covered any aspect of direct payment and were not necessarily complaints.
	97 per cent. of customers are now paid by direct payment and 93 per cent. have said that they are happy receiving their payments this way. To put the number of possible complaints into context, over 15 million customers are paid by direct payment and between April 2004 and March 2005 DWP made over 455 million payments into customer's accounts.

Benefits/Pensions (Payment Methods)

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer given on 25 May 2005, Official Report, column 117W, on benefits payment, if he will list those publications which provide benefit and pension recipients with information on direct payment; and which of these publications (a) advise customers who do not think they can use an account to contact his Department and (b) provide information on the exceptions service.

James Plaskitt: Direct payment is referred to in a number of departmental, stakeholder and other Government publications. To identify all of these publications and their references to direct payment could be obtained only at disproportionate cost because the information is not held centrally
	Now that the Department has completed its main programme of converting existing customers to direct payment, those customers who need to tell us that they do not think they can use an account are likely to be making a new claim for a benefit or pension.
	Information on direct payment is included in all our current claim packs. Customers are given the opportunity to request information on being paid by other methods within these claim packs. The Department will then contact any customers that request more information to discuss the options available to them.

Benefits/Pensions (Payment Methods)

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps the (a) Pensions Agency and (b) Benefits Agency have taken to disseminate information about the exceptions scheme in accessible formats for customers who cannot read print.

James Plaskitt: We do not specifically market payment by cheque because we do not believe cheques are appropriate for the vast majority of our customers. Payment into an account is the safest, most reliable way to receive payment and in most cases provides the greatest range of access to cash and other financial services.
	The Pension Service has a local service, whose staff will visit customers who cannot read print, and request assistance.
	Jobcentre Plus make direct payment information available in large print and in Braille. Staff have been trained to deliver information about the methods of payment available to suit the needs of the customer. This can be by phone or face to face interview at the customer's home if necessary. The Jobcentre Plus website is accessible to visually impaired customers via JAWS software (Job Access with Speech) which translates information into synthesized speech.
	Disability and Carers Service will also provide information in large print, Braille or audio and will arrange to visit those customers who request assistance.

Benefits/Pensions (Payment Methods)

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what records the (a) Pensions Agency and (b) Benefits Agency keeps of the preferred formats of customers who are unable to read print.

James Plaskitt: Pension Service staff keep either manual or electronic records of customers1 preferred formats, as available. In the longer term, the relevant benefits systems will incorporate an automatic indicator as to a customer's preferred format. Similarly, Jobcentre Plus, which brought together the Benefits Agency and the Employment Service in 2002, advises offices to keep records of a customer's preference for non-standard formats. Such records will be electronic where IT systems are able to support this and clerical where they are not.

Benefits/Pensions (Payment Methods)

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many emergency payments have been made by (a) the Benefits Agency and (b) the Pensions Service in each year since 2000; what the total value was of the emergency payments made by each body; and whether the payments were made by (i) cheque, (ii) direct payment and (iii) cash.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available in the format requested.
	There is no legislation under which the Department or its Agencies make specifically termed emergency payments. However, Social Fund Crisis Loans can be made to people who find themselves in an emergency situation. Jobcentre Plus, which replaced part of the Benefits Agency, administers the Social Fund for its own and The Pension Service's customers.
	The following table shows the volume and value of Crisis Loans since 2000.
	
		
			 April to March each year: Crisis Loan awards Crisis Loan expenditure ( million gross) 
		
		
			 200001 930,000 65.3 
			 200102 991,000 74.9 
			 200203 1,064,000 84.6 
			 200304 1,059,000 85.1 
			 200405(31) 1,000,000 81.9 
		
	
	(31) Will appear in the SoS Annual Report for the Social Fund which has not yet been published.
	Source:
	Secretary of State Annual Reports for the Social Fund

Child Support Agency

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time taken by the Child Support Agency to reply to a letter from a member of the public is in the last year for which figures are available.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Stephen Geraghty. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Stephen Geraghty to Mr. Nigel Evans, dated 13 July 2005
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average time taken by the Child Support Agency to reply to a letter from a member of the public is in the last year for which figures are available.
	The Agency receives a great many letters from the public every day. These range from simple enquiries to complaints. For the majority of letters we do not record how long it takes to reply to them. I am sorry to say that I am not therefore able to answer the question in terms of all letters received from clients.
	However, we do have targets to resolve or agree a resolution plan in 68% of client complaints within 15 working days of receipt. I can tell you that 74.3% of complaints were resolved or a resolution plan was agreed in 200405.

Child Support Agency

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the internal audit recommendation in 200304 regarding an effective audit trail for CS2 was made; and when such a trail was established.

James Plaskitt: The internal audit recommendation regarding an effective audit trail for CS2 was made in December 2003. An interim audit trail is operating in CS2 currently. The current plans indicate that full audit trail functionality will be implemented in spring 2006 following a further release of the software.

Housing Benefit

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many prosecutions for housing benefit fraud were undertaken by each local authority in each year since 1997; how many were successful; and how many people were imprisoned as a result.

James Plaskitt: The available information has been placed in the Library. Information regarding imprisonment is not available.

Housing Benefit

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people received housing benefit in each London borough in the last period for which figures are available; and how much was paid in total in each.

James Plaskitt: The information is in the following tables.
	
		Average housing benefit caseloads in London local authorities: February to November 2004
		
			 Local authority Number 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 16,600 
			 Barnet 19,600 
			 Bexley 10,600 
			 Brent 25,800 
			 Bromley 14,300 
			 Camden 27,800 
			 City of London 1,100 
			 Croydon 23,100 
			 Ealing 21,800 
			 Enfield 20,200 
			 Greenwich 23,900 
			 Hackney 31,600 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 19,200 
			 Haringey 28,600 
			 Harrow 11,200 
			 Havering 10,200 
			 Hillingdon 14,800 
			 Hounslow 15,600 
			 Islington 28,800 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 15,600 
			 Kingston upon Thames 6,700 
			 Lambeth 34,200 
			 Lewisham 28,000 
			 Merton 9,600 
			 Newham 32,100 
			 Redbridge 12,500 
			 Richmond upon Thames 7,900 
			 Southwark 35,000 
			 Sutton 8,800 
			 Tower Hamlets 31,000 
			 Waltham Forest 19,500 
			 Wandsworth 21,900 
			 Westminster 20,700 
			 London 648,300 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.
	2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100.
	3. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated.
	4. Housing benefit figures exclude any extended payment cases.
	Source:
	Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly 100 per cent. caseload stock-count taken in February, May, August and November 2004.
	
		Housing benefit expenditure in London local authorities, in nominal terms, 200203
		
			   million 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 53.3 
			 Barnet 96.4 
			 Bexley 40.2 
			 Brent 143 
			 Bromley 58.1 
			 Camden 134.9 
			 City Of London 4.8 
			 Croydon 102.3 
			 Ealing 106.1 
			 Enfield 105.8 
			 Greenwich 84.6 
			 Hackney 155.5 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 87.9 
			 Haringey 148.6 
			 Harrow 58.9 
			 Havering 33.2 
			 Hillingdon 69.9 
			 Hounslow 64.5 
			 Islington 119.2 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 77.4 
			 Kingston upon Thames 31.1 
			 Lambeth 146.6 
			 Lewisham 104.7 
			 Merton 38.7 
			 Newham 155.7 
			 Redbridge 64.7 
			 Richmond upon Thames 35.3 
			 Southwark 132.2 
			 Sutton 34.1 
			 Tower Hamlets 131.5 
			 Waltham Forest 83.4 
			 Wandsworth 100.5 
			 Westminster 135.7 
			 Total London 2,939.0 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100,000.
	2. Figures presented are audited, but may change in future if local authorities' audited accounts are amended after a decision or appeal.
	Source:
	Local authority claims for Housing Revenue Account subsidy and Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit subsidy.

Incapacity Benefit

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average entry wage has been of those returning to work after claiming incapacity benefit as a proportion of the ongoing wage for men and women aged (a) 18 to 24, (b) 25 to 29, (c) 30 to 34, (d) 35 to 39, (e) 40 to 44, (f) 45 to 49, (g) 50 to 54 and (h) 55 to 58 in (i) the UK and (ii) Pathways to Work pilot areas from 1979 to the most recent year for which figures are available.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 11 July 2005
	The information is not available.

Income Support

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) males and (b) females aged (i) 16 to 24, (ii) 25 to 30, (iii) 30 to 39 and (iv) 40 years and over were on income support in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

James Plaskitt: The information is in the table.
	
		Income support claimants in Great Britain by age and gender at dates shown
		
			 As at February: All claimants 1624 2529 3039 4059 60 and over 
		
		
			 2000   
			 All 3,805,700 336,100 318,600 700,500 858,200 1,592,400 
			 Male 1,298,700 83,400 85,100 219,500 400,500 510,200 
			 Female 2,507,000 252,700 233,500 480,900 457,700 1,082,200 
			
			 2001   
			 All 3,890,000 329,500 301,700 698,200 893,500 1,667,200 
			 Male 1,341,700 81,600 80,700 222,900 417,200 539,400 
			 Female 2,548,300 247,900 221,000 475,300 476,300 1,127,800 
			
			 2002   
			 All 3,940,700 321,100 282,700 687,300 925,300 1,724,300 
			 Male 1,377,000 80,100 76,000 223,400 430,800 566,700 
			 Female 2,563,700 241,000 206,700 463,900 494,500 1,157,600 
			
			 2003   
			 All 3,959,500 305,900 268,300 678,400 951,700 1,755,200 
			 Male 1,399,300 67,700 73,000 223,600 441,500 593,300 
			 Female 2,560,300 238,200 195,300 454,700 510,200 1,161,800 
			
			 2004   
			 All 2,204,000 302,100 262,200 665,100 969,100 5,500 
			 Male 807,200 64,800 71,600 221,100 447,400 2,300 
			 Female 1,396,800 237,300 190,600 444,000 521,700 3,100 
			
			 2005   
			 All 2,137,000 292,600 251,100 620,400 972,500 (32)500 
			 Male 778,600 60,300 66,800 207,200 444,100 (32)200 
			 Female 1,358,400 232,300 184,300 413,200 528,400 (32)300 
		
	
	(32) Figures are based on very few sample cases and therefore subject to a high degree of sampling variation.
	Notes:
	1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. From November 2003 IS figures are affected by the introduction of pension credit, which replaced minimum income guarantee on 6 October 2003 and extended income support entitlement to customers aged 60+. Pension credit cases are not included in the figures in the table.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, 5 per cent. samples

Pension Rights

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how the Government calculated the funding required to compensate those workers who have lost occupational pension rights; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) will give assistance not compensation to people whose defined benefit occupational pension schemes started to wind up underfunded, with insolvent employers, before the start of the Pension Protection Fund. The aim is not to replace all members' losses, but to give significant help to those most seriously affected, and the Government believe that its commitment of 400 million of public funds over 20 years is an appropriate provision for that. The 400 million figure reflects information available, at the time of the original announcement on FAS in May 2004, about the extent of relevant pension scheme failures. It also reflects a judgment on what it was reasonable to provide from public funds.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Democratic Republic of Congo

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make an assessment of the flow of arms into the Democratic Republic of Congo, including those that may have been trafficked (a) through the UK and (b) via UK brokers.

Ian Pearson: A UN arms embargo in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been in place since July 2003, and was strengthened in April 2005 by UN Security Council Resolution 1596. Despite efforts to enforce the embargo, it has been reported that rebel groups operating in eastern DRC are receiving limited supplies of new arms and ammunition. Any information received that alleges that arms may have been trafficked through the UK, or that UK companies or individuals are violating the embargo, is passed on to the relevant UK investigatory authorities for action. To date, there have been no prosecutions in the UK.

Democratic Republic of Congo

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the status of the UN arms embargo relating to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ian Pearson: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been subject to an arms embargo since July 2003. On 18 April 2005, the UN Security Council decided in its resolution 1596 (2005) to broaden the scope and geographical range of the arms embargo. The embargo prohibits the transfer of arms to any part of DRC, subject to certain exemptions for humanitarian activities and for official DRC and UN troops. It also provides for a travel ban and assets freeze on individuals who violate the embargo.

EU Human Rights Obligations

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether there is a common definition of torture for the purpose of compliance with the human rights obligations of EU member states.

Ian Pearson: All EU member states are parties to the UN Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Article 1 of the convention sets out an internationally agreed definition of acts that constitute torture, stating that:
	the term torture means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions.

EU Human Rights Obligations

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what obligations EU member states are under to investigate allegations of torture.

Ian Pearson: All EU member states are parties to the UN Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Article 12 of the convention states that:
	each State Party shall ensure that its competent authorities proceed to a prompt and impartial investigation, wherever there is reasonable ground to believe that an act of torture has been committed in any territory under its jurisdiction.
	EU member states also have similar obligations by reason of their being parties to the European Convention on Human Rights.

EU Presidency

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the (a) total cost of and (b) selection procedure for the UK's EU presidency logo.

Douglas Alexander: The cost of producing the logo for the UK's six month Presidency of the European Union is 10,000. The total cost associated with this project is 35,000 and includes costs such as design integrity guidelines and trade marking. Following a competitive tender, the design was chosen by a panel which included representatives from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for Culture Media and Sport and the Cabinet Office and chaired by the Design Council Chief Executive. Approval of the final design was given by Ministers.

EU Presidency

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking during the UK's EU presidency (a) to inform the UK public about the workings of the EU and (b) to involve the public in such workings.

Douglas Alexander: The Government's communication priority during the UK's EU presidency is to ensure EU citizens are informed on the work of the presidency, including the EU's role in addressing the presidency policy priorities. Over the six months of the presidency, we will be informing and engaging people through the official presidency website, publications and the media. In addition, a number of meetings of the European Parliament and Council will be open to the public, as well as televised and broadcast.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department contributed to (a) the drafting of the new Iraqi constitution and (b) the draft petroleum law; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The UK has no direct input into the drafting of the Iraqi Constitution. It is up to the Iraqis themselves to decide what goes into it. The Iraqi Constitutional Committee is drafting the text, which will be submitted to a referendum in October.
	The Petroleum Law is also a matter for the Iraqis to decide. The UK Government has not contributed to any part of the drafting process.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many advisers were seconded from the private sector in the UK to (a) the Iraq Coalition Provisional Authority and (b) other relevant Iraqi administrative bodies to work on oil industry issues; from which organisations each was seconded; how they were funded; what the costs were; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The UK seconded two advisers, one an independent consultant (formerly BP and Shell) and one from BP, to the Coalition Provisional Authority to work on oil industry issues. Total costs for the advisers, met by the UK Government, were 147,700.

Social Models

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the timetable is for the European Commission research and report into sustainable social models.

Douglas Alexander: As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said on 1 July, the Commission will produce a paper on the challenges for the European social model in the 21st century in advance of the informal summit to be held in the autumn. This builds on the mandate given to the Commission by the European Council in March 2005, to produce a report on the sustainability of the social model in Europe.

Statutory Instrument Sponsorship

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what statutory instruments have been sponsored by his Department since 1997.

Jack Straw: As the information the hon. Member has requested is lengthy, it has been placed in the Library of the House.

Zimbabwe

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) Commonwealth and (b) African Union counterparts regarding the human rights situation in Zimbabwe.

Ian Pearson: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister discussed Zimbabwe with African Leaders at the G8 Summit in Gleneagles.
	My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Lord Triesman of Tottenham) and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development (Hilary Benn) attended the recent African Union Summit in Libya where they discussed Zimbabwe with African and other leaders, including the African Union Chairperson Alpha Konare and United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan. We continue to make clear our view that African leaders should engage with the Government of Zimbabwe to seek an end to the ongoing human rights abuses.
	We remain in regular dialogue with our Commonwealth partners. Many have joined us in condemning the appalling human rights violations of the Government of Zimbabwe, most recently statements by the Governments of Australia and New Zealand condemning the human rights situation and calling for further international action.

HEALTH

Alliance Medical

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who is responsible for health and safety assessment of the site occupied by Alliance Medical in Middlesbrough.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 30 June 2005
	The location and suitability of the site were agreed between the host national health service trust and Alliance Medical Ltd. (AML). AML is contractually obliged to comply with existing health and safety legislation and is responsible for patient and staff safety inside the mobile unit.

Alliance Medical

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the pay rates are for staff working for Alliance Medical; and what the rates are for equivalent staff working in the NHS;
	(2)  what percentage of staff working for Alliance Medical are former NHS employees;
	(3)  what percentage of staff working for Alliance Medical are not UK citizens.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 4 July 2005
	The Department does not hold the information requested about staff working for Alliance Medical Ltd. who are expected not to recruit staff who have been employed by the national health service in the preceding six-month period.
	Rates of pay for most non-medical staff working in the national health service are based on the new pay and reward system, Agenda for Change. Details of Agenda for Change, including current pay bands and rates, are available at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/HumanResourcesAndTraining/ModernisingPay/AgendaForChange/fs/en

Anti-psychotics

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what monitoring her Department (a) has undertaken and (b) plans to undertake of the prescription of (i) olanzapine, (ii) risperidone and (iii) other anti-psychotics for people with dementia.

Jane Kennedy: The Department does not collect information on the prescribing of these drugs specifically for people with dementia.

Bowel Diseases

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding has been provided for research into(a) ulcerative colitis and (b) Crohn's disease from the Department's research and development programme.

Jane Kennedy: The Department's national research programme spend on projects related to inflammatory bowel disease in the period from 1994 to 2004 was 503,000. This figure includes part of the cost of a project on combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine safety in relation to juvenile Crohn's disease.
	Over 75 per cent. of the Department's total expenditure on health research is devolved to and managed by national health service organisations. Details of completed and ongoing projects, including a number concerned with ulcerative colitis and with Crohn's disease, can be found on the national research register at www.dh.gov.uk/research.

Bowel Diseases

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to improve services for patients suffering from (a) ulcerative colitis and (b) Crohn's disease.

Liam Byrne: It is for primary care trusts to commission appropriate local services according to local need in order to improve care for people with long-term conditions, as set out in the NHS Improvement Plan.

Breast Milk Substitute Advertising

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints have been made to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) about breast milk substitute advertising in the UK in the last three years; and whether the ASA has issued a ruling in response to all complaints.

Caroline Flint: I am not in a position to answer this question as issues relating to advertising complaints are the responsibility of the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), which is an independent body. Any questions relating to the number of complaints made about breast milk substitute advertising should be referred directly to the head of complaints at the ASA.

Charities (Care Standards Annual Fees)

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what help her Department makes available for small charities to meet the Care Standards annual fees;
	(2)  if she will exempt charities from paying Care Standards annual fees.

Liam Byrne: There are no special arrangements available for small charities to meet annual fees. However, in setting the fees in 200203, the cost of registering and inspecting different types and sizes of service providers, was taken into account.
	The Government cannot exempt charities from paying annual fees as this would be unfair to other care providers. All providers benefit from the assurance that regulation gives, including the voluntary sector.

Child Deaths (Passive Smoking)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of children who died as a result of breathing in their mother's cigarette smoke in the last year for which figures are available.

Caroline Flint: This information is not collected centrally.

Deafblind Services (Milton Keynes)

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the level of social service provision for deafblind people in Milton Keynes.

Liam Byrne: Information about the level of social service provision is not held centrally. It is for the local social services to decide how resources should be allocated between services, taking account of local circumstances and priorities.

Departmental Advertising

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the Department spent on advertising in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: The table shows the expenditure on major information campaigns and advertising commissioned by the Department's communications directorate for the past five years200001 to 200405. The figures include the costs of campaign-related publishing, television radio, poster, newspaper and magazine advertising.
	
		Advertising expenditure
		
			 Financial year  million 
		
		
			 200001 20.80 
			 200102 20.41 
			 200203 23.13 
			 200304 38.98 
			 200405 32.7

Digestive Conditions

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) completed consultant episodes and (b) deaths relating to digestive conditions and diseases there have been in each year since 1997, broken down by gender.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is shown in the following tables.
	
		Count of finished admission episodes for selected diagnoses (based on ICD-10 codes)primary diagnosis-digestive conditions and diseases. national health service hospitals, England 199798 to 200304
		
			 Diagnosis grouping of digestive conditions and diseases Female Male Not known 
		
		
			 199798
			 K00-K14 Diseases of oral cavity, salivary glands and jaws 96,604 72,764 1,924 
			 K20-K31 Diseases of oesophagus, stomach and duodenum 129,042 145,394 1,118 
			 K35-K38 Diseases of appendix 16,608 19,531 206 
			 K40-K46 Hernia 44,619 99,988 486 
			 K50-K52 Non infective enteritis and colitis 51,055 42,480 577 
			 K55-K63 Other diseases of intestines 105,452 87,267 1,056 
			 K65-K67 Diseases of peritoneum 3,890 2,173 38 
			 K70-K77 Diseases of liver 7,810 10,785 63 
			 K80-K87 Disorders of gall bladder, biliary tract and pancreas 62,437 34,410 583 
			 K90-K93 Other diseases of the digestive system. 21,757 23,945 276 
			 Total 539,274 538,737 6,329 
			 
			 199899
			 K00-K14 Diseases of oral cavity, salivary glands and jaws 104,361 80,455 76 
			 K20-K31 Diseases of oesophagus, stomach and duodenum 138,348 155,011 92 
			 K35-K38 Diseases of appendix 16,169 19,656 13 
			 K40-K46 Hernia 47,613 110,809 31 
			 K50-K52 Non infective enteritis and colitis 53,980 44,120 25 
			 K55-K63 Other diseases of intestines 114,389 95,205 48 
			 K65-K67 Diseases of peritoneum 4,075 2,232 1 
			 K70-K77 Diseases of liver 8,217 11,009 24 
			 K80-K87 Disorders of gall bladder, biliary tract and pancreas 64,068 35,467 22 
			 K90-K93 Other diseases of the digestive system. 23,476 25,215 10 
			 Total 574,696 579,179 342 
			 
			 19992000
			 K00-K14 Diseases of oral cavity, salivary glands and jaws 100,946 78,878 189 
			 K20-K31 Diseases of oesophagus, stomach and duodenum 140,408 155,131 266 
			 K35-K38 Diseases of appendix 16,247 20,001 60 
			 K40-K46 Hernia 47,082 107,483 115 
			 K50-K52 No infective enteritis and colitis 57,202 46,396 132 
			 K55-K63 Other diseases of intestines 122,087 100,538 242 
			 K65-K67 Diseases of peritoneum 3,922 2,253 9 
			 K70-K77 Diseases of liver 8,370 11,550 20 
			 K80-K87 Disorders of gall bladder, biliary tract and pancreas 67,094 36,141 111 
			 K90-K93 Other diseases of the digestive system. 24,712 26,441 47 
			 Total 588,070 584,812 1,191 
			 
			 200001
			 K00-K14 Diseases of oral cavity, salivary glands and jaws 96,013 77,028 181 
			 K20-K31 Diseases of oesophagus, stomach and duodenum 137,892 151,473 173 
			 K35-K38 Diseases of appendix 16,799 20,628 34 
			 K40-K46 Hernia 48,124 109,565 210 
			 K50-K52 No infective enteritis and colitis 58,473 46,975 273 
			 K55-K63 Other diseases of intestines 125,202 103,438 279 
			 K65-K67 Diseases of peritoneum 4,166 2,384 9 
			 K70-K77 Diseases of liver 8,689 11,825 31 
			 K80-K87 Disorders of gall bladder, biliary tract and pancreas 71,811 38,170 42 
			 K90-K93 Other diseases of the digestive system. 24,750 26,782 36 
			 Total 591,919 588,268 1,268 
			 
			 200102
			 K00-K14 Diseases of oral cavity, salivary glands and jaws 93,393 76,893 190 
			 K20-K31 Diseases of oesophagus, stomach and duodenum 131,380 141,036 303 
			 K35-K38 Diseases of appendix 15,754 19,617 32 
			 K40-K46 Hernia 47,273 106,413 180 
			 K50-K52 No infective enteritis and colitis 59,254 47,700 201 
			 K55-K63 Other diseases of intestines 119,458 100,099 263 
			 K65-K67 Diseases of peritoneum 4,087 2,395 10 
			 K70-K77 Diseases of liver 8,840 12,339 12 
			 K80-K87 Disorders of gall bladder, biliary tract and pancreas 73,258 38,616 100 
			 K90-K93 Other diseases of the digestive system. 24,822 26,833 39 
			 Total 577,519 571,941 1,330 
			 
			 200203
			 K00-K14 Diseases of oral cavity, salivary glands and jaws 93,698 76,489 46 
			 K20-K31 Diseases of oesophagus, stomach and duodenum 129,021 138,630 22 
			 K35-K38 Diseases of appendix 15,799 19,851 5 
			 K40-K46 Hernia 47,077 109,781 13 
			 K50-K52 No infective enteritis and colitis 63,130 50,681 9 
			 K55-K63 Other diseases of intestines 120,665 102,297 17 
			 K65-K67 Diseases of peritoneum 4,043 2,430 1 
			 K70-K77 Diseases of liver 9,050 12,806 5 
			 K80-K87 Disorders of gall bladder, biliary tract and pancreas 76,394 39,785 2 
			 K90-K93 Other diseases of the digestive system. 24,726 26,984 6 
			 Total 583,603 579,734 126 
			 
			 200304
			 K00-K14 Diseases of oral cavity, salivary glands and jaws 94,478 77,583 48 
			 K20-K31 Diseases of oesophagus, stomach and duodenum 126,202 133,943 30 
			 K35-K38 Diseases of appendix 16,467 19,995 2 
			 K40-K46 Hernia 46,526 111,920 12 
			 K50-K52 No infective enteritis and colitis 65,417 51,607 12 
			 K55-K63 Other diseases of intestines 124,667 105,118 19 
			 K65-K67 Diseases of peritoneum 4,016 2,301  
			 K700-K77 Diseases of liver 9,304 13,808 2 
			 K80-K87 Disorders of gall bladder, biliary tract and pancreas 80,244 42,072 8 
			 K90-K93 Other diseases of the digestive system. 25,354 28,334 2 
			 Total 592,675 586,681 135 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
	2. The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (seven prior to 200203) diagnosis fields in the hospital episode statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.
	3. Figures are grossed for both coverage and missing/invalid clinical data, except for 200203 and 200304, which are not yet adjusted for shortfalls.
	4. Not knownrecords from which data compiled do not clearly indicate the sex of the patient.
	Source:
	HES, Health and Social Care Information Centre.
	
		Number of deaths from diseases of the digestive system(33)England and Wales, 19972003(34)
		
			  Male Female 
		
		
			 1997 6,849 8,303 
			 1998 7,147 8,267 
			 1999 7,385 8,437 
			 2000 7,429 8,618 
			 2001(35) 8,040 9,479 
			 2002(35) 8,320 9,520 
			 2003(35) 8.447 9.750 
		
	
	(33) Defined using the International Classification of Diseases Ninth Revision codes 520579 for 19972000 and the International Classification of Diseases Tenth Revision codes KOO-K93 for 2001 to 2003.
	(34) Data is for deaths occurring in each calendar year.
	(35) Data for 2001 onwards may not be directly comparable to that for earlier years due to the introduction of ICD-10 for mortality coding (see: Office for National Statistics (2002) Report: Results of the ICD-10 Bridgecoding study, England and Wales 1999. Health Statistics Quarterly 14, 7583.)

Digestive Conditions

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding has been provided for research into digestive diseases and conditions from (a) the Medical Research Council and (b) the Department's research and development programme.

Jane Kennedy: The main agency through which the Government supports medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC is an independent body funded by the Department of Trade and Industry via the Office of Science and Technology.
	In 200304, the MRC spent 4.6 million on research relevant to digestive diseases and conditions 1 .
	The Department funds research to support policy and to provide the evidence needed to underpin quality improvement and service development in the national health service. The Department's national research programme spend on projects related to digestive diseases and conditions in 200304 was 1.3 million.
	Over 75 per cent. of the Department's total expenditure on health research is devolved to and managed by NHS organisations. Details of completed and on-going projects supported by this funding can be found on the national research register at www.dh.gov.uk/research.
	1 Areas of research counted for this purpose include: inflammatory bowel diseases, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, cholangitis, irritable bowel syndrome, intestinal diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, peptic ulcers, abdominal pain, pancreatitis, gastroenteritis, gastric and intestinal mucosa, dysentery, colonic diseases.

Digital Hearing Aids (Bedfordshire)

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time for digital hearing aids was in (a) the County of Bedfordshire and (b) England in 200405.

Liam Byrne: This information is not held centrally.

Domiciliary Care

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  under what circumstances a local authority can refuse to disregard housing costs and council tax when calculating charges for domiciliary care;
	(2)  whether local authorities in England are required to disregard housing costs and council tax when calculating charges for domiciliary care.

Liam Byrne: The Department issued guidance Fairer Charging for Home Care and other non-residential Social Services to all local councils in November 2001, revised in September 2003. It stated that where councils charge for domiciliary care services they should take into account the income of the service user. Paragraph 80vii of the guidance explains that income should be assessed net of housing costs and council tax.
	The guidance was issued under section seven of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970. In the case Regina v. Islington London borough council ex parte Rixon (1998), the Court took the view that councils must follow such guidance unless they had a good reason not to.

Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation (Leeds)

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to increase funding for drug and alcohol rehabilitation in (a) Leeds West, (b) Leeds and (c) West Yorkshire.

Liam Byrne: For drug treatment services, allocations from the pooled drug treatment budget for this year and the next two years are shown in the tables.
	
		Allocation for Leeds, which includes Leeds West
		
			  Amount () Percentage increase over previous year 
		
		
			 200506 4,974,000 n/a 
			 200607 7,041,000 41.55 
			 200708 7,948,000 12.88 
		
	
	n/a = Not available.
	
		Allocation for West Yorkshire, which includes; Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield
		
			  Amount () Percentage increase over previous year 
		
		
			 200506 13,479,000 n/a 
			 200607 19,338,000 41.55 
			 200708 21,828,000 12.88 
		
	
	n/a = Not available.
	Additional funding is spent on drug treatment from mainstream funding, but the Department does not collect this information centrally.
	All funding for alcohol treatment is via the mainstream and the Department does not collect this information centrally.

Emergency Response Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost of each response to an emergency call by (a) an emergency care practitioner and (b) a fully-equipped ambulance has been in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: This information is not collected centrally.

Emergency Response Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many fully-equipped ambulances have been operated by NHS Ambulance Trusts in England in each year since 1997; and if she will estimate the size of the fleet in 2010.

Liam Byrne: This information is not collected centrally.
	As a result of the Department's strategic review of ambulance services, we expect the number of ambulance vehicles to increase over the next few years. The size of the fleet and fleet mix will vary across the country depending on operational and geographical requirements.

Finished Consultant Episodes

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many finished consultant episodes there were where obesity was the primary diagnosis in (a) each NHS region, (b) each strategic health authority and (c) England in each year since 200203.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is shown in the tables.
	
		Count of finished consultant episodes where primary diagnosis is obesity for data year 200203 and 200304
		
			 Region 200203 200304 
		
		
			 England 1,442 1,898 
			 Unknown 22  
			 Northern and Yorkshire 348 493 
			 Trent 164 157 
			 West Midlands 102 169 
			 North-west 241 301 
			 Eastern 56 96 
			 London 258 348 
			 South East 156 201 
			 South West 95 133 
		
	
	
		Count of finished consultant episodes where primary diagnosis is obesity for data year 200203 and 200304, by strategic health authority
		
			 Strategic health authority 200203 200304 
		
		
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 42 63 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 20 21 
			 Essex 16 12 
			 North West London 59 80 
			 North Central London 51 97 
			 North East London 32 34 
			 South East London 58 80 
			 South West London 58 57 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 68 81 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley 20 26 
			 North and East Yorkshire and N Lincolnshire 66 142 
			 West Yorkshire 199 243 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire 17 29 
			 Greater Manchester 91 165 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside 133 110 
			 Thames Valley 27 16 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 106 147 
			 Kent and Medway * 19 
			 Surrey and Sussex 14 * 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 55 70 
			 South West Peninsula 33 35 
			 Dorset and Somerset * 28 
			 South Yorkshire 107 111 
			 Trent 35 32 
			 Leicestershire, Northumberland and Rutland 21 21 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 17 54 
			 Birmingham and the Black Country 72 111 
			 West Midlands (Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire) 13 * 
		
	
	Note:
	Due to reasons of confidentiality, figures between one and 10 have been suppressed and replaced with '*' .
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

General Practitioners

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GP vacancies there have been in each of the last five years; and how many applicants there were for each vacancy.

Liam Byrne: The requested information is shown in the table. The increase in vacancies over this period arises from the increase in new general practitioner principal posts as the GP workforce has been expanded. The estimated three-month vacancy rate showing hard-to-fill GP principal posts decreased between 2003 and 2004. 
	
		All reported GP vacancy numbers in England, 2000 to 2004
		
			  England total reported vacancies Average number applicants of per vacancy 
		
		
			 2000 1,143 8.5 
			 2001 2,345 6.9 
			 2002 2,487 4.4 
			 2003 3,245 3.3 
			 2004 3,076 3.7 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Numbers relate to GP principal vacancies occurring at any time in the 12 month survey period of 1 April to 31 March each year.
	2. Numbers were collected directly from primary care trusts (PCTs) from 2003; previous years' vacancy numbers were collected from health authorities. Over this period, a varying, small number of PCTs and health authorities did not respond to the survey.
	Source:
	Department of Health GP recruitment, retention and vacancy surveys, 2000 to 2004.

General Practitioners

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners there were in each strategic health authority area per (a) 100,000 weighted population and (b) 100,000 unweighted population in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		General medical practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars)1 by strategic health authority per 100,000 unweighted population2, and per 100,000 weighted population3, as at 31 December 2004England
		
			 Number (headcount) 
			   All practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars)1 All practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars)1 per 100,000 unweighted population2 All practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars)1 per 100,000 unweighted population3 
		
		
			  England 31,798 63.78 63.81 
			  
			  North East
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley 751 65.48 58.42 
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 927 66.58 59.64 
			  
			  North West
			 Q15 Cheshire and Merseyside 1,540 65.41 59.62 
			 Q13 Cumbria and Lancashire 1,177 61.33 56.96 
			 Q14 Greater Manchester 1,526 60.29 54.36 
			  
			  Yorkshire and the Humber
			 Q11 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire 1,037 63.20 63.16 
			 Q23 South Yorkshire 827 64.99 59.76 
			 Q12 West Yorkshire 1,397 66.65 64.02 
			  
			  East Midlands
			 Q25 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland 894 56.53 62.26 
			 Q24 Trent 1,628 60.96 59.17 
			  
			  West Midlands
			 Q27 Birmingham and The Black Country 1,401 61.63 56.98 
			 Q26 Shropshire and Staffordshire 879 58.76 58.56 
			 Q28 West Midlands South 974 62.82 64.32 
			  
			  East of England
			 Q02 Bedford and Hertfordshire 1,001 61.99 67.43 
			 Q03 Essex 932 57.19 60.28 
			 Q01 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 1,475 66.48 68.49 
			  
			  London
			 Q05 North Central London 811 66.46 70.86 
			 Q06 North East London 921 60.16 60.80 
			 Q04 North West London 1,176 64.80 70.08 
			 Q07 South East London 1,007 66.61 69.71 
			 Q08 South West London 846 64.56 73.12 
			  
			  South East
			 Q17 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 1,135 63.16 67.29 
			 Q18 Kent and Medway 912 57.00 58.23 
			 Q19 Surrey and Sussex 1,644 63.95 66.84 
			 Q16 Thames Valley 1,329 62.91 71.38 
			  
			  South West
			 Q20 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 1,619 73.89 78.09 
			 Q22 Somerset and Dorset 886 73.41 72.59 
			 Q21 South West Peninsula 1,146 71.57 68.34 
		
	
	(36) General medical practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars) includes contracted GPs, GMS others and PMS others.
	(37) ONS population data as at 2003
	(38) Department of Health populations adjusted for age and need using components of the weighted capitation formula
	Sources:
	1. NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre General and Personal Medical Services Statistics
	2. 2001 ONS Population Census
	3. Department of Health

General Practitioners

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent GPs are practising in each of the major towns of the North Shropshire constituency.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not held centrally. Shropshire and Staffordshire Strategic Health Authority reports that the number of whole-time equivalent (wte) general practitioners practising in major towns in North Shropshire is as shown in the table.
	
		
			 Town Wte GPs 
		
		
			 Clive 3.50 
			 Baschurch 3.00 
			 Shawbury 2.00 
			 Ellesmere 4.50 
			 Hodnet 2.50 
			 Market Drayton 8.00 
			 Wem/Prees 5.25 
			 Whitchurch 6.75

Health Care (Merton)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action she is taking in response to the London borough of Merton's referral of the Better Healthcare Closer to Home Proposals; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The Secretary of State has received a referral from the London borough of Merton on the reconfiguration decisions made by the local national health service. The issues raised are now being considered.

Healthy Start Initiative

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Healthy Start initiative will be implemented; and what provision has been made for additional training on nutrition and practical healthy eating on a low income to health visitors and midwives before the scheme starts.

Caroline Flint: The Healthy Start scheme, which will replace the current welfare food scheme, will be implemented in stages. Subject to parliamentary approval, phase one of Healthy Start is expected to be implemented in Devon and Cornwall in November 2005. Phase two of the scheme is expected to be implemented from mid-2006 across the rest of Great Britain.
	A training programme for health professionals will be developed prior to the implementation of Healthy Start, aimed at providing health professionals with the information they need to support and promote the new scheme. The training will be set in the context of wider public health issues and will take into account the nutritional needs of families on low-income.

Hepatitis C

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to increase awareness of the symptoms of hepatitis C among (a) general practitioners and (b) other doctors.

Caroline Flint: The Department launched a hepatitis C awareness campaign for health care professionals in June 2004, with the distribution of an information pack to all general practitioners and practice nurses in England, and to a range of other health professionals. A new national health service hepatitis C awareness websitewww.hepc.nhs.ukwas also established. There have been a range of features about hepatitis C published in medical journals. Awareness-raising activities are continuing.

Inspection Fees (Charities)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to the Healthcare Commission of carrying out statutory inspections on the Sussex MS Treatment Centre in Southwick, West Sussex, was in the last period for which figures are available.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 20 June 2005
	I understand from the Chairman of the Healthcare Commission that the information is not available in the form requested.

IVF Treatment

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many free cycles of IVF are offered in each primary care trust area;
	(2)  what (a) targets and (b) timescales she has set for primary care trusts to reach the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence recommendation to provide three free cycles of IVF treatment.

Caroline Flint: The Department does not collect information centrally on the number of national health service funded in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments carried out. Following the publication in February 2004 of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's (NICE) clinical guideline on the assessment and treatment for people with fertility problems, we advised all primary care trusts (PCTs) to offer a minimum of one cycle of IVF by April 2005 to those who meet the clinical criteria, giving priority to couples with no children living with them, and to make progress to full implementation of the guideline in the longer term.
	The primary responsibility for the implementation of NICE'S guidelines rests with the NHS at local level. NICE guidelines are one of a range of factors that PCTs must take into account, in liaison with patients' groups and local health bodies, in deciding their policy on the provision of treatment services for the locality. This policy will reflect local needs and priorities.
	Compliance with NICE guidance by NHS organisations will be considered by the Healthcare Commission during their review and performance assessment processes.

Lancashire Ambulance Trust

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the (a) non-executive members and (b) chairman of Lancashire Ambulance Trust will be elected; and if she will take steps to ensure that the views of local hon. Members on the process are sought.

Liam Byrne: The Secretary of State has delegated appointments to all local national health service bodies to the NHS appointments commission. I have asked the Chairman, Sir William Wells to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Mental Health

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps are being taken to ensure people with mental health problems (a) aged 50 to 64, (b) aged 65 to 74, (c) aged 75 years or over are offered alternatives to drug treatment;
	(2)  what measures are in place to promote good mental health among people aged (a) over 50 and (b) over 65 years.

Liam Byrne: The needs of older people with mental health problems are the focus of a standard in the national service framework for older people. Where an older person has severe mental illness due to a psychotic illness, he or she will require the packages of care set out in the national service framework (NSF) for mental health, and the same standards should apply as for working age adults. Non-drug treatments such as psychological therapies are listed among the range of effective interventions for people with mental health problems in both the NSF for mental health and for older people.
	The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) regularly considers the use of non-drug treatments in the development of clinical guidelines for the treatment of a range of mental health problems such as depression and dementia.
	The NSFs for mental health and older people include standards on mental health promotion, which requires health and social services to promote mental health for all and combat discrimination against individuals and groups with mental health problems, and promote their social inclusion.

Mental Health

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action she intends to take to address the shortfall of funding for the Yorkshire Mental Health Trustsidentified by the Commission for Health Improvement.

Liam Byrne: Primary care trusts (PCTs) are responsible for commissioning health services to meet the needs of their local population, including mental health services. In the current financial year, PCTs across Yorkshire and Humberside received resource revenue allocations totalling 5.5 billion. This will increase to 7.1 billion in 200708.

MMR Vaccinations

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department is taking to increase stocks of MMR vaccine; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Department has been working with both manufacturers of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to increase supplies into the United Kingdom. Additional amounts of the vaccine have been received and will continue to be received throughout the year.

MMR Vaccinations

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether her Department's guidance restricts the use of MMR vaccinations for 15 to 24-year-olds; and what provision has been made for those in this age group whohave not previously had a full course of MMR vaccine and are either (a) moving to an area of the country where relevant infections have occurred on a significant scale and (b) advised to be vaccinated before enrolling at university or working in residential accommodation.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 7 July 2005
	The Department continues to advise that all children receive two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine as part of the routine childhood immunisation programme. We are also advising 15 to 24-year-olds to ensure they are properly protected against measles, mumps and rubella. This advice is the same for all parts of the county, and all within this age group.

MRI Scans (Durham)

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many complaints have been made about the operation of the NHS scanner at the University Hospital North Durham;
	(2)  how many complaints have been made about scanning services provided by the University Hospital North Durham.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 4 July 2005
	Information on the numbers of complaints under the national health service complaints procedure about specific services is not held centrally.

MRI Scans (Durham)

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her answer to question reference 8726, what systems are in place to ensure the scanner at University Hospital North Durham is fully utilised.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 11 July 2005
	This information is not held centrally. It is a matter for the national health service trust concerned in partnership with its local primary care trusts as service commissioners.

Myasthenia Gravis

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on myasthenia gravis and the support available for those diagnosed with the disease.

Liam Byrne: The national health service and social services provide a range of health and social care services specifically tailored to the varying individual needs of those living with myasthenia gravis, allowing them to manage their condition, maintain independence and achieve the best possible quality of life.

NHS Dentistry

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 14 June 2005, Official Report, columns 141156, on dentistry, how many NHS dentists were in place in each of the primary care trusts covering (a) the Isle of Wight, (b) Milton Keynes, (c) South West Devon, (d) Torbay, (e) Plymouth Devonport, (f) Teignbridge, (g) Romsey, (h) North West Hampshire, (i) Broxbourne and (j) Hitchin and Harpenden constituency (i) in 1997 and (ii) at the most recent date for which information is available; and what proportion of the resident (A) under 18 and (B) over 18 years population was known to be registered with an NHS dentist (1) in 1997 and (2) at the most recent date for which information is available in each case.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 5 July 2005
	The information requested has been placed in the Library.

NHS Research Ethics Committees

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the NHS research ethics committees which are operational; and in what areas they operate.

Jane Kennedy: The national health service research ethics committees and the areas in which they operate are shown in the following list. Under the central booking system, committees can be allocated research proposals outside of their geographical area. In such cases, the ethics committee gives a single opinion for all sites covered by the proposal.
	Research ethics committees
	Airedale Local Research Ethics Committee
	Barking and Havering Local Research Ethics Committee
	Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Local Research Ethics Committee
	Barnsley Local Research Ethics Committee
	Bexley and Greenwich Local Research Ethics Committee
	Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde Local Research Ethics Committee
	Bolton Local Research Ethics Committee
	Bromley Local Research Ethics Committee
	Brompton, Harefield and NHLI Research Ethics Committee
	Calderdale and Huddersfield Local Research Ethics Committee
	Camden and Islington Community Local Research Ethics Committee
	Charing Cross Hospital Research Ethics Committee
	Cheshire Local Research Ethics Committee 2
	Cornwall Research Ethics Committee
	County Durham and Darlington Local Research Ethics Committee
	Coventry Research Ethics Committee
	Doncaster Local Research Ethics Committee
	Dudley Local Research Ethics Committee
	East Birmingham Local Research Ethics Committee
	East Lancashire Local Research Ethics Committee
	East London and The City HA Local Research Ethics Committee 2
	East Surrey, Crawley and Horsham Local Research Ethics Committees
	East Sussex Local Research Ethics Committee
	Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
	Gateshead and South Tyneside Local Research Ethics Committee
	Harrogate Health Care NHS Trust Local Research Ethics Committee
	Hartlepool and North Tees Local Research Ethics Committee
	Hereford and Worcester Local Research Ethics Committee
	Lewisham Local Research Ethics Committee
	Lincolnshire Local Research Ethics Committee
	Mid and South Buckinghamshire LREC
	Milton Keynes Local Research Ethics Committee
	Moorfields Eye Hospital Local Research Ethics Committee
	Morecambe Bay Research Ethics Committee
	North and Mid Essex Local Research Ethics Committee
	North and Mid Hampshire Local Research Ethics Committee
	North Birmingham Local Research Ethics Committee
	North Cumbria Local Research Ethics Committee
	North Manchester Local Research Ethics Committee
	North Nottinghamshire Local Research Ethics Committee
	North Somerset Research Ethics Committee
	North West Surrey Local Research Ethics Committee
	North West Wales Local Research Ethics Committee
	Northampton Local Research Ethics Committee
	Northumberland Local Research Ethics Committee
	Oldham Local Research Ethics Committee
	Orkney Local Research Ethics Committee
	Peterborough and Fenland Local Research Ethics Committee
	Redbridge and Waltham Forest Local Research Ethics Committee
	Rotherham Local Research Ethics Committee
	Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust Research Ethics Committee
	Salisbury Research Ethics Committee
	Sandwell and West Birmingham Local Research Ethics Committee
	Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Local Research Ethics Committee
	Shropshire Local Research Ethics Committee
	Solihull Local Research Ethics Committee
	South Devon Research Ethics Committee
	South Sheffield Research Ethics Committee
	South Tees LREC
	Southmead Research Ethics Committee
	St. Helens and Knowsley LREC
	Stockport Local Research Ethics Committee
	Swindon Research Ethics Committee
	Tameside and Glossop Local Research Ethics Committee
	Walsall Local Research Ethics Committee
	West Kent Research Ethics Committee
	West Sussex Local Research Ethics Committee
	Whittington Hospital Local Research Ethics Committee
	Wolverhampton Local Research Ethics Committee
	Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh LREC
	Yorkhill Local Research Ethics Committee
	Hounslow and Hillingdon Local Research Ethics Committee
	Baling and West London Mental Health Trust Research Ethics Committee
	South Staffordshire Local Research Ethics Committee
	Berkshire Local Research Ethics Committee
	Brent Medical Ethics Committee
	Cambridge Local Research Ethics Committee
	Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust /
	Guy's Research Ethics Committee
	King's College Hospital Local Research Ethics Committee
	Riverside Research Ethics Committee
	St. Thomas' Hospital Research Ethics Committee
	The Royal Marsden NHS Trust Local Research Ethics Committee
	Wandsworth Local Research Ethics Committee
	Huntingdon Local Research Ethics Committee
	Oxfordshire Research Ethics Committee A
	Royal Free Hospital and Medical School Local Research Ethics Committee
	Bath Research Ethics Committee
	Bedfordshire Local Research Ethics Committee
	Bradford Local Research Ethics Committee
	Cheshire Local Research Ethics Committee 1
	Derbyshire Local Research Ethics Committee
	Dorset Research Ethics Committee
	East Kent Local Research Ethics Committee
	East London and The City HA Local Research Ethics Committee 3
	Gloucestershire Local Research Ethics Committee
	Hammersmith, Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Research Ethics Committee
	Harrow Research Ethics Committee
	Hertfordshire 2 Research Ethics Committees
	Hull and East Riding Local Research Ethics Committee
	Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South East Hampshire LREC
	Leeds (East) Research Ethics Committee
	Leicestershire Local Research Ethics Committee (1)
	Leicestershire Local Research Ethics Committee (2)
	Liverpool Local Research Ethics Committee
	Liverpool Children's Research Ethics Committee
	London-Surrey Borders REC
	Newcastle and North Tyneside Local Research Ethics Committee 2
	North and East Devon Research Ethics Committee
	North Sheffield Local Research Ethics Committee
	North Staffordshire Local Research Ethics Committee
	Norwich Local Research Ethics Committee
	Nottingham Research Ethics Committee (1)
	Nottingham Research Ethics Committee (2)
	Oxfordshire Research Ethics Committee B
	Oxfordshire Research Ethics Committee C
	Preston, Chorley and South Ribble Local Research Ethics Committee
	Salford and Trafford Local Research Ethics Committee
	Sefton LREC
	Somerset Research Ethics Committee
	South Birmingham Local Research Ethics Committee
	South Humber Local Research Ethics Committee
	South London and Maudsley/IOP Ethical Committee (Research)
	South Manchester Local Research Ethics Committee
	South West Devon Research Ethics Committee
	South West Surrey Local Research Ethics Committee
	Southampton Local Research Ethics Committee B
	St. Mary's Local Research Ethics Committee
	Suffolk Local Research Ethics Committee
	Sunderland Local Research Ethics Committee
	The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and Institute of Neurology Joint Medical REC
	UCLH Local Research Ethics Committee Alpha
	Warwickshire Local Research Ethics Committee
	West Essex Local Research Ethics Committee
	York Research Ethics Committee
	South Essex Local Research Ethics Committee
	Wakefield District REC
	Brighton and Mid Sussex Local Research Ethics Committee
	Central and South Bristol Research Ethics Committee
	Central Manchester Local Research Ethics Committee
	East London and The City HA Local Research Ethics Committee 1
	Eastern MREC
	Hertfordshire 1 REC
	Leeds (West) Local Research Ethics Committee
	London MREC
	Newcastle and North Tyneside Local Research Ethics Committee 1
	North West MREC
	South West MREC
	Southampton Local Research Ethics Committee A
	Trent MREC
	UCLH Local Research Ethics Committee A
	West Midlands MREC
	Metropolitan MREC
	Northern and Yorkshire MREC
	South East MREC
	Thames Valley MREC

Nurse Prescribers

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to improve the education and training opportunities for nurses who are independently prescribing drugs.

Jane Kennedy: All health professionals, including nurses, have a professional responsibility to keep their skills and knowledge up-to-date. National health service organisations have a responsibility to enable this, to ensure patient safety and to provide a high quality service. Nurse prescribers take part in audit, review and continuing professional development activities, both individually and within their care teams.
	The Department funds the work of the National Prescribing Centre. The centre's aim is,
	to promote and support high quality, cost-effective prescribing and medicines management across the NHS, to help improve patient care and service delivery.
	It provides a variety of education and training opportunities to qualified non-medical prescribers.

Obesity

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the development of slimming on referral by Greater and Central Derby Primary Care Trust and Slimming World; what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of this project; how many primary care trusts offer such referral schemes; and what steps she intends to take to promote trusts' awareness and adoption of such schemes.

Caroline Flint: The Government are aware of the work of Slimming World in Greater and Central Derby Primary Care Trust (PCT). The White Paper, Choosing Health, made a commitment to assess the role the independent sector, including Slimming World and how validated programmes, such as slimming on referral, can play in providing effective behaviour change programmes.

Older People (Medication)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many primary care (a) groups and (b) trusts have schemes in place enabling older people to get help from pharmacists in using their medicines;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2005, Official Report, column 642W, on the National Service Framework for Older People, if she will set out for each data collection period since collection began the number and frequency of medication reviews for older people (a) in general practitioner surgeries and (b) care homes;
	(3)  pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2005, Official Report, column 642W, on the National Service Framework for Older People, which primary care trusts are taking part in the medicines management collaborative;
	(4)  pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2005, Official Report, column 642W, on the National Service Framework for Older People, how the quality of medicine reviews are measured; and if she will publish the results.

Liam Byrne: Information on the number and frequency of medication reviews for older people is not collected centrally.
	The medicines partnership and the medicines management collaborative published Room for Review 2002, which was widely disseminated and endorsed by the Department. Room for Review provides a clear definition to the national health service of a medication review. It also provides guidance on different levels of medication reviews that can be undertaken. The level of review will depend on the complexity of the patients' clinical condition. Strategic health authorities, through their performance management role, ensure that primary care trusts within their areas are providing quality services to their patients.
	146 primary care organisations, in four waves, starting in 2001, have taken part in the medicines management collaborative programme. Further details are available at www.npc.co.uk

Orlistat

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prescription items of orlistat were dispensed in the community in England in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and how many children received the drug in each of those years.

Jane Kennedy: The numbers of prescription items dispensed in the community in England are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Total Children(39) 
		
		
			 2002 541,378 3,000 
			 2003 485,653 2,000 
			 2004 493,309 2,000 
		
	
	(39) Children are defined as 0 to 15-year-olds and as 16 to 18-year-olds in full-time education. Figures for items dispensed to children are derived by sampling and are rounded to the nearest thousand.

Pain Management

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the cost to the economy of sickness absence as a result of pain in 200405; if she will take steps to ensure a national standard for the availability of pain management and treatment under the NHS; if she will list pain clinics; and how many patient treatment episodes for pain there were in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: It is not possible to estimate the cost to the economy because information about sickness absence as a result of pain as pain is not collected. We do not intend to develop a national standard for the availability of pain management and treatment under the national health service as the Department published Standards for Better Health in July 2004, geared to ensuring that high quality care is available to all patients, no matter what condition they are suffering from.
	Information about pain clinics is not collected centrally. Figures for patient treatment episodes for pain are not available because, pain is not coded separately in the hospital episode statistics.

Personal Care Assistance (Coventry)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the baseline minimum is for people to receive assistance in financing personal care in Coventry.

Liam Byrne: Currently, people in England with less than 20,500 are entitled to financial help from social services in meeting the cost of their residential care, which will usually include personal care. People with resources of 12,500 or less do not pay for their residential care.
	Councils like Coventry, have discretionary powers to decide whether to charge for personal care provided in non-residential settings. The Department has issued statutory guidance, Fairer Charging Policies for Home Care and other non-residential Social Services to councils. Section VIII of the guidance advises that if charges are levied, in assessing service users' ability to pay, councils should not set resource limits lower than those for residential care. In addition, charges should not reduce the user's resources below basic levels of income support, plus a buffer of not less than 25 per cent.

Physiotherapy Graduates

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many physiotherapy students graduated in the United Kingdom in 2004.

Liam Byrne: Information is not collected centrally on the number of physiotherapy students graduating each year in England.
	Information for Wales is a matter for the devolved Administration.

Pregnancy (Smoking)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the medical effects of smoking by the pregnant woman on the health of an unborn child.

Caroline Flint: The medical effects of smoking by the mother on the health of an unborn child are set out in the national health service leaflet, S is for smoking and pregnancy. A copy is available in the Library.

Research and Development

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total expenditure of her Department's research and development programme has been in each year since it was established; and what proportion of the total NHS budget this equated to in each year.

Jane Kennedy: The Department's total expenditure on research and development (RD) 1 , from the year in which the current system of RD allocations to national health service providers began and the proportion of the Department's total net expenditure this represents, is shown in the table.
	1 The Department's policy research programme, NHS research and development and research carried out by the Department's arm's length bodies.
	
		
			  Total RD spend ( million) RD as a proportion of total net Departmental spend (percentage) 
		
		
			 199798 486 1.38 
			 199899 481 1.05 
			 19992000 501 1.02 
			 200001 510 1.01 
			 200102 538 0.80 
			 200203 574 0.86 
			 200304 604 0.96 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Expenditure before 199899 is on a cash basis.
	2. Spend figures from 19992000 are on a resource budgeting basis, and total net spend for these years includes NHS pensions.
	3. Figures are not therefore directly comparable across the period.

School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she intends to publish the full evaluation of the school fruit and vegetable scheme undertaken by the National Foundation of Educational Research; and what funds her Department has allocated to the scheme beyond 200506.

Caroline Flint: The Big Lottery Fund commissioned the National Foundation for Educational Research to carry out the evaluation of the school fruit and vegetable scheme. The Big Lottery Fund expect to publish the final report on their website by the end of August.
	An announcement on future funding for the school fruit and vegetable scheme will be made once we have considered the findings from the evaluation.

Seroxat

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her Department's advice is on the prescribing of (a) Seroxat and (b) other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

Jane Kennedy: On 6 December 2004, a letter was sent to all health professionals in the United Kingdom from the Chairman of the Committee on Safety of Medicines announcing the results of the review of the safety of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), including Seroxat and providing prescribing advice for all SSRIs. A copy is available in the Library.
	On the same day, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published guidelines on the management of depression in primary care. These guidelines state that antidepressants, including SSRIs, are not recommended for the initial treatment of mild depressive illness because the risk-benefit ratio is poor.

Simvastatin

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the respondents to the consultation on the proposed reclassification of simvastatin as an over-the-counter drug were in favour of the proposal.

Jane Kennedy: Of the 100 responses received, about one third were supportive of the proposal, one third opposed and one third were not opposed but raised issues. This was the position put to the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM), which also had access to the full responses when giving its advice. The consultation raised no issues not already considered by the CSM when their advice to consult on making simvastatin 10 milligrammes (mg) available over the counter was formulated. An error in the summary placed on the website following the announcement of the decision to allow simvastatin 10 mg to be sold in pharmacies had no bearing on the robustness of the deliberations of the CSM.
	Responses received to the consultation on the proposed reclassification of simvastatin as an over-the-counter medicine have been made available electronically or summarised on the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency's (MHRA) website at:
	http://medicines.mhra.gov.uk/inforesources/publications/arm18 responses.htm.
	To ensure complete transparency, the MHRA publishes the responses to all such consultationsmost recently for chloramphenicol eye drops.

Skin Cancer

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what guidance her Department provides regarding the prevention of skin cancer caused by over-exposure to the sun;
	(2)  how much has been spent by her Department on (a) advertisements and (b) materials to educate individuals on the effects of over-exposure to the sun.

Caroline Flint: In 200304, the United Kingdom health departments provided 400,000 funding to Cancer Research UK to run the SunSmart sun awareness campaign from 200304 for an initial three year period. The campaign aims to raise awareness of skin cancer, the symptoms to look out for and the simple steps on how to prevent it. Posters and information cards have been distributed to health professionals, all general practitioners' surgeries and schools, to reach as many people as possible with the five point SunSmart message:
	Stay in the shade between 11.00 am. and 3 pm.
	Make sure you never burn
	Always cover up
	Remember to take extra care with children
	Then use factor 15+ sunscreen
	SunSmart encourages people to protect themselves in the sun, thereby reducing their risk of skin cancer. This public education approach using primary care stakeholders has been very successful in Australia, where changes in attitude towards sun exposure and symptom recognition have reduced skin cancer mortality.
	The SunSmart campaign works primarily through the distribution of materials, public relations and strategy development, underpinned by research to provide an evidence base.
	As Cancer Research UK does not use paid advertising in newsletters or papers as a primary communication tool, costs reflect activities such as promotional merchandise, web presence, sun awareness week activities, purchasing of distribution opportunities and conference presence. Estimates of the value of the coverage and reach generated by the campaign in 2004 are as follows:
	Number of articles generated: 932
	This is an increase of 485 articlesmore than double that generated in 2003
	76 per cent. of all United Kingdom adults were reached
	The advertising equivalent rate is 6, 687,296
	494 million people with an opportunity to see
	Reach stayed the same as 2003 at 76 per cent.
	Frequency of message increased from 10.4 to 13.9 per adult
	Note:
	The above does not include reach of free resource materials, but to print and radio coverage at nil cost.
	Costs of materials include components for their development and design, printing, storage and distribution. Other costs relate to staff, including on costs, are shown in the table.
	
		
		
			  Total contract Staff costs Advertising and promotion Materials 
		
		
			 200304 110,000 26,000 14,500 61,000 
			 200405 170,000 45,000 37,000 88,000 
			 200506 175,000 48500 39,500 87,000 
			 200607 180,000 Unbudgeted at this stage

Smoking

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if she will include in her consultation on the elements of forthcoming health improvement legislation relating to restrictions on smoking the option of designated smoking rooms in workplaces, including licensed premises;
	(2)  if she will include in her consultation on elements of forthcoming health improvement legislation relating to restrictions on smoking the designation of well-ventilated smoking rooms which are separated from both bar and eating areas.

Caroline Flint: The Government's proposals were set out in the White Paper, Choosing Health, in November 2004 for legislation for the vast majority of enclosed public places and workplaces to be smokefree.
	Consultation on these proposals began on 20 June, when the consultation paper, Smokefree elements of the Health Improvement and Protection Bill, was published. A copy is available in the Library.

Southend Primary Care Trust

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) NHS clerical, administrative and management staff, (b) NHS hospital doctors and GPs and (c) NHS nurses and midwives there were in Southend Primary Care Trust in each year since 1990.

Rosie Winterton: The available information is shown in the table.
	Information for Southend Primary Care Trust (PCT) is only available from 2001, when the PCT came into existence. Figures by strategic health authority (SHA) are shown from 1992 for medical staff. Information about non-medical staff is only available from 1995.
	
		NHS hospital and community health services (HCHS): Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff, clerical and administrative staff, managers and senior managers, HCHS Doctors1, General Medical Practitioners2 and Practice Nurses for specified organisations
		
			   1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 
		
		
			 Q03 Essex
			  
			  All Doctors 1,920 1,783 1,750 1,999 2,002 2,164 2,177 
			  Of which:
			  HCHS Doctors(40) 1,091 949 911 1,157 1,171 1,315 1,315 
			  All General Medical Practitioners(41) 829 834 839 842 831 849 862 
			  
			  All Specified Non-medical Staff (42) (42) (42) 9,375 9,626 9,997 9,658 
			  Of which:
			  Qualified Nurses (42) (42) (42) 7,399 7,334 7,766 7,359 
			  Managers and Senior Managers (42) (42) (42) 606 536 489 511 
			  General Clerical and Administrative Staff (42) (42) (42) 1,370 1,756 1,742 1,788 
			  GP Practice Nurses 659 638 653 653 645 687 658 
			  
			  Of which:
			  
			 5AK Southend on Sea PCT
			  All Doctors (42) (42) (42) (42) (42) (42) (42) 
			  Of which:
			  HCHS Doctors(40) (42) (42) (42) (42) (42) (42) (42) 
			  All General Medical Practitioners(41) (42) (42) (42) (42) (42) (42) (42) 
			  
			  All Specified Non-medical Staff (42) (42) (42) (42) (42) (42) (42) 
			  Of which:
			  Qualified Nurses (42) (42) (42) (42) (42) (42) (42) 
			  Managers and Senior Managers (42) (42) (42) (42) (42) (42) (42) 
			  General Clerical and Administrative Staff (42) (42) (42) (42) (42) (42) (42) 
			  
			  GP Practice Nurses (42) (42) (42) (42) (42) (42) (42) 
		
	
	
		
			   1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Q03 Essex   
			 
			  All Doctors 2,256 2,232 2,279 2,406 2,494 2,709 
			  Of which:   
			  HCHS Doctors(40) 1,383 1,360 1,415 1545 1,575 1,739 
			  All General Medical Practitioners(41) 873 872 864 861 919 970 
			 
			  All Specified Non-medical Staff 10,311 10,635 10,780 11,529 11,655 12,213 
			  Of which:   
			  Qualified Nurses 7,510 7,646 8,171 8,757 8,608 8,898 
			  Managers and Senior Managers 563 565 581 837 967 1,140 
			  General Clerical and Administrative Staff 2,238 2,424 2,028 1,935 2,080 2,175 
			  GP Practice Nurses 682 686 696 733 731 775 
			 
			  Of which:   
			 
			 5AK Southend on Sea PCT   
			  All Doctors (42) (42) 84 83 91 112 
			  Of which:   
			  HCHS Doctors(40) (42) (42) 0 1 3 1 
			  All General Medical Practitioners(41) (42) (42) 84 82 88 111 
			 
			  All Specified Non-medical Staff (42) (42) 240 261 281 269 
			  Of which:   
			  Qualified Nurses (42) (42) 210 213 215 193 
			  Managers and Senior Managers (42) (42) 17 24 42 50 
			  General Clerical and Administrative Staff (42) (42) 13 24 24 26 
			 
			  GP Practice Nurses (42) (42) 82 85 78 71 
		
	
	(40) Excludes Medical Hospital Practitioners and Medical Clinical Assistants, most of whom are GPs working part time in hospitals
	(41) General Medical Practitioners includes Contracted GPs, QMS Others, GP Registrars, GP Retainers and PMS Others. Prior to September 2004 this group included QMS Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs, PMS Salaried GPs, Restricted Principals, Assistants, Salaried Doctors (Para 52 SFA), PMS Other, Flexible Career Scheme GPs, GP Registrars, GP Retainers and GP Returners.
	(42) Data not applicable.
	Note:
	Data each year as at 30 September, except GP and Practice Nurse data as at 1 October 19921999,30 September 20002004.
	Sources:
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census.
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre Medical and Dental Workforce Census.

Southend Primary Care Trust

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent by Southend primary care trust on salaries and wages costs for (a) general and senior managers, (b) nurses and midwives and (c) administrative and clerical staff in each financial year since 199798.

Rosie Winterton: Expenditure on salaries and wages by Southend primary care trust (PCT) for the occupational groups requested are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Senior managers and managers Nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff Administrative and clerical 
		
		
			 200001 687,377 0 95,032 
			 200102 921,055 4,571,231 638,711 
			 200203 1,532,287 4,998,534 880,626 
			 200304 1,468,100 5,298,229 918,969 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The Department collects primary care trust expenditure information on national health service and non NHS staff. The table shows the total expenditure on the occupational categories requested.
	2. Southend PCT was created on 1 April 2000. Therefore, expenditure cannot be shown from 199798 until this date.
	3. The table contains the relevant information for 200001 to 200304, which is the latest available.
	4. Expenditure in the first year is nil or lower than in later years. This is due to the fact that the PCT was setting up services.

Wem and Ellesmere Medical Practices

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the population in the catchment area of the (a) Wem Medical Practice and (b) Ellesmere Medical Practice has been in each of the last five years for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the age structure of the population in the catchment area of the (a) Wem Medical Practice and (b) Ellesmere Medical Practice has been in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: The information is not available centrally in the format requested.
	Table 1 shows the total number of patients registered at Ellesmere and Wem medical practices at September 2004. This is the only year that the Department holds this information at this level.
	
		Table 1: Registered patients(43) by age band, as at 30 September 2004actual numbers
		
			 Medical practice Ellesmere Wem 
		
		
			 Total 7,219 8,889 
			
			 (Age)   
			 04 329 406 
			 514 921 1,096 
			 1544 2,536 3,203 
			 4564 2,014 2,381 
			 6574 722 948 
			 7584 544 645 
			 85+ 153 210 
		
	
	(43) The number of registered patients is the total number of patients registered at each practice, and for whom that practice is responsible.
	Source:
	National Health Service Health and Social Care Information Centre general and personal medical services statistics.
	Table 2 shows 2001 census-based resident population estimates for Shropshire County Primary Care Trust (PCT) and the age breakdown of those figures. Figures from before 2001 are not available.
	
		Table 2: 2001 census-based resident population estimates for Shropshire county PCT by age band
		
			  2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Total population 283,254 285,388 286,745 
			 
			 Age
			 Less than 1 year 2,761 2,658 2,800 
			 0104 12,429 12,102 11,657 
			 0509 16,775 16,821 16,801 
			 1014 18,355 18,819 18,771 
			 1519 17,784 17,881 18,508 
			 2024 12,919 13,357 13,584 
			 2529 15,241 14,078 13,224 
			 3034 19,217 18,939 18,297 
			 3539 21,197 21,398 21,506 
			 4044 19,694 20,461 20,847 
			 4549 18,808 18,893 19,185 
			 5054 21,195 20,507 19,778 
			 5559 19,362 20,644 21,565 
			 6064 16,198 16,550 17,143 
			 6569 14,205 14,573 14,933 
			 7074 12,941 13,097 13,201 
			 7579 10,800 10,719 10,668 
			 8084 7,157 7,634 8,084 
			 8589 4,090 4,077 3,961 
			 Over 90 2,126 2,180 2,232 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are on a resident basis within the PCT boundary.